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Design and Applied Arts at Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,807/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #85 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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 $463K $465K $446K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 12.2x 11.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.0x 4.0x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 42 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,024
Out-of-state: $116,168 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$50,396
-33% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,807/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

At #85 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Middle Tennessee State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Middle Tennessee State University

With a 68% acceptance rate, Middle Tennessee State University is moderately selective, enrolling 16,115 students in Murfreesboro, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at Middle Tennessee State 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 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 Middle Tennessee State University

Construction Management ($71,762) Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering ($71,664) Engineering-Related Fields ($67,431) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,839) Engineering Technology, General ($60,808) Computer Science ($57,653) Accounting and Related Services ($51,963) Agricultural Business and Management ($50,013)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Middle Tennessee State University?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design and Applied Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $446,410 in decade earnings vs $462,747 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →