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Design at Kean University

Union, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,673/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #73 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 25%

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 $605K $596K $552K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.1x 10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.1x 6.5x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,704
Out-of-state: $84,304 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,672
9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,004
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,125
66% growth from Year 1

About Kean University

Kean University accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 10,842 students in Union, NJ. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Kean 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 Kean University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($101,039) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($55,867) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($54,447) Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($51,540) Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences ($50,645) Special Education and Teaching ($48,628) Finance and Financial Management Services ($46,685) Accounting and Related Services ($46,386)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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 Kean University's Design program score?
This program scores 43/100 — 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.
Why does Kean University rank so high for Design?
The #73 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →