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Design at Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,045/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #148 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $467K $469K $450K
Earnings Multiple 8.6x 8.6x 8.3x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 32 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$54,520
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,808
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,500
9.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,252
27% growth from Year 1

About Ferris State University

Ferris State University has a 81% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 8,087 students in Big Rapids, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Ferris State 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 →

Design 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 Ferris State University

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($78,820) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,851) Construction Management ($73,292) Surveying Engineering ($72,931) Manufacturing Engineering ($68,715) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($68,334) Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians ($67,764) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($67,423)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ferris State University's Design program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design 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 →