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Design and Applied Arts at Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,443/yr (14% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #90 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design and Applied Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $533K $530K $499K
Earnings Multiple 8.6x 8.5x 8.0x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$62,040
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,336
-10% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,336
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,443 at Eastern Michigan University come in 14% above the national median of $33,862 for Design and Applied Arts programs.

At 8.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #90 out of 290 programs, Eastern Michigan University's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,443 to $52,336 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 10,751 students in Ypsilanti, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Eastern Michigan University →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design and Applied Arts →

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Other Majors at Eastern Michigan University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,760) Construction Management ($71,798) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($65,737) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($63,070) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($59,433) Accounting and Related Services ($57,500) Management Information Systems and Services ($54,948) Finance and Financial Management Services ($53,843)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Eastern Michigan University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →