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Design and Applied Arts at Oakland University

Rochester Hills, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
29
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,687/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #184 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 and Applied Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $496K $496K $471K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.4x 8.4x 8.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.3x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 29 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$58,776
Out-of-state: $92,752 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,336
8% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
10.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,569
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,687/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

A 8.4x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 5% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Design and Applied Arts career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $26,000 against $30,687/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #184 ranking among 290 Design and Applied Arts programs places Oakland University in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 48% earnings increase from $30,687 to $45,569 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Oakland University

Oakland University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 12,450 in Rochester Hills, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Oakland 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 Oakland University

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($80,623) Computer Engineering ($78,709) Mechanical Engineering ($78,213) Industrial Engineering ($77,169) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,917) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($69,446) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($66,537) Management Information Systems and Services ($65,128)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 29/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design and Applied Arts at Oakland University?
At 29/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Design and Applied Arts programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design and Applied Arts at Oakland University?
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →