Design at Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
39
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,964/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
11.0x earnings multiple (4.8x 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 | $563K | $557K | $521K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.1x | 11.0x | 10.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.9x | 4.8x | 4.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 39 | 39 | 47 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,608
Out-of-state: $115,600 (4.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,333
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,011
59% growth from Year 1
About Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 23,041 in Flagstaff, AZ.
See all programs and financial aid at Northern Arizona University →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 Northern Arizona University
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
How does Northern Arizona University's Design program score?
This program scores 39/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →