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Design and Applied Arts at Meredith College

Raleigh, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
28
Optimistic
27
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,357/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #204 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 $487K $488K $465K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.8x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 27 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$175,744
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,788
54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
8.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,268
27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,357 at Meredith College come in 7% above the national median of $33,862 for Design and Applied Arts programs.

At 2.8x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.

The 5% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Design and Applied Arts career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $25,000 against $36,357/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #204 ranking among 290 Design and Applied Arts programs places Meredith College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 27% earnings increase from $36,357 to $46,268 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Meredith College

Meredith College accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,288 students in Raleigh, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $80,788 over four years — 54% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Meredith 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

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 Meredith College

Human Resources Management and Services ($50,635) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,955) Marketing ($45,883) Biology, General ($43,182) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($40,762) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,525) Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations ($37,787) English Language and Literature, General ($35,619)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What does a 27/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design and Applied Arts at Meredith College?
At 27/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Design and Applied Arts programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design and Applied Arts at Meredith College?
The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Design and Applied Arts at Meredith College?
The 54% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $175,744. At a net cost of $80,788, the earnings multiple improves substantially.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →