Designat North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Graduates earn $41,846/yr in their first year — about 24.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $512K; scenarios range from $484K to $514K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at North Dakota State
Graduates earn $41,846/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Design's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $41,846 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #43 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $41,846 to $50,837 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to North Dakota State's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Design
How North Dakota State stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at North Dakota State
Other highest-scoring programs offered at North Dakota State, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Design offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Design at North Dakota State
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $484,039 in decade earnings vs $513,575 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes North Dakota State University-Main Campus's Design program stand out?
Ranked #43 of 290 programs nationally, North Dakota State University-Main Campus lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.