Design at Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,191/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
9.1x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
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 | $394K | $402K | $395K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.9x | 9.1x | 8.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.7x | 5.9x | 5.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 29 | 28 | 38 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,184
Out-of-state: $68,504 (5.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
10.7 months of Year 1 earnings
About Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg State University accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 2,825 students in Fitchburg, MA.
See all programs and financial aid at Fitchburg State University →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Design at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Fitchburg State University?
A score of 28/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $395,274 in decade earnings vs $393,667 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →