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Design at North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
21 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
22
Optimistic
21
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,037/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #262 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $600K $591K $548K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 22 21 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,576
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,132
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
9.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,631
95% growth from Year 1

About North Central College

North Central College accepts 58% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 2,360 in Naperville, IL. The average net cost of $92,132 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at North Central 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 →

Design 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 North Central College

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($85,168) Accounting and Related Services ($58,717) Human Resources Management and Services ($53,587) Computer Science ($53,544) Economics ($52,728) Finance and Financial Management Services ($51,420) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($48,549) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($48,074)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 21/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design at North Central College?
At 21/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Design programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design at North Central 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.
Is North Central College a good choice for Design despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If North Central College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →