Design and Applied Arts at LIM College

New York, NY · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
29
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,885/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 4.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #185 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 $594K $585K $543K
Earnings Multiple 4.6x 4.6x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 29 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$127,800
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,915
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,151
76% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,885 track close to the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 4.6x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,915 debt-to-$31,885 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #185 out of 290 programs, LIM College's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,885 to $56,151 over five years (76% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About LIM College

LIM College has a 99% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,133 students in New York, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at LIM College →

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 LIM College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 LIM College's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 29/100 — 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 →