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Design and Applied Arts at Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,976/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 6.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #114 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 $464K $466K $447K
Earnings Multiple 6.6x 6.7x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$69,800
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,976/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

At 6.7x 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 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$38,976 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #114 out of 290 programs, Grand Canyon University's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Grand Canyon University

With a 60% acceptance rate, Grand Canyon University is moderately selective, serving a student body of 68,619 in Phoenix, AZ. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Grand Canyon 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 Grand Canyon University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($92,781) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,628) Homeland Security ($68,503) Mechanical Engineering ($68,391) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($66,736) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($65,070) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($59,500) Accounting and Related Services ($53,977)

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 Grand Canyon University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 38/100 — 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 →