Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $49,144 put Florida State University's Design and Applied Arts program 45% above the national median of $33,862 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
With a 22.7x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 6% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Design and Applied Arts career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
With first-year pay of $49,144 far exceeding the $22,625 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Florida State University ranks #6 among 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
The limited growth from $49,144 to $52,542 over five years suggests earnings in this field plateau relatively early in one's career.