Design and Applied Arts at Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
26
Optimistic
26
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,019/yr (-11% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 5.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #219 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

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 $495K $495K $470K
Earnings Multiple 5.8x 5.8x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 26 26 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$84,888
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$118,208
-39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,998
10.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,177
50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,019/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

At 5.8x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,998 debt-to-$30,019 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #219 out of 290 programs, Liberty University's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $30,019 to $45,177 over five years (50% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Liberty University

Liberty University accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 50,059 students enrolled in Lynchburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Liberty 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

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at Liberty University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Liberty University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 26/100 — 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 →