Home › Judson University › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at Judson University

Elgin, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,466/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #144 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 $453K $456K $439K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.7x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$123,640
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$100,108
19% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,466/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 3.7x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #144 out of 290 programs, Judson University's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Judson University

With a 63% acceptance rate, Judson University is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 780 students in Elgin, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Judson 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 Judson University

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($45,731) Architecture ($41,033) Human Services, General ($37,671) Psychology, General ($34,964)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Judson University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 33/100 — 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 →