Design at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,450/yr (17% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
14.6x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
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 | $641K | $628K | $578K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.9x | 14.6x | 13.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.4x | 5.3x | 4.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 54 | 53 | 57 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,120
Out-of-state: $118,012 (5.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,500
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,448
63% growth from Year 1
About Metropolitan State University of Denver
Metropolitan State University of Denver accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 14,932 in Denver, CO.
See all programs and financial aid at Metropolitan State University of Denver →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Design at Other Schools
Other Majors at Metropolitan State University of Denver
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design field.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $578,031 in decade earnings vs $640,545 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →