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Design and Applied Arts at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,176/yr (33% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 5%

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 $665K $651K $596K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.7x 11.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.3x 4.2x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,436
Out-of-state: $153,460 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,168
-42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,694
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,416
54% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Ohio State University-Main Campus Design and Applied Arts graduates command $45,176/yr out of the gate, well above the $33,862 national median. That 33% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.7x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,694 in median debt clears quickly against $45,176 in annual earnings.

At #10 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $69,416 show a 54% jump from the $45,176 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Ohio State University-Main Campus

Ohio State University-Main Campus's 51% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 44,617 in Columbus, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio State University-Main Campus →

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)

Compare Design and Applied Arts

Ohio State University-Main Campus vs University of Washington-Seattle Campus → Ohio State University-Main Campus vs University of California-Los Angeles → Ohio State University-Main Campus vs Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus → Ohio State University-Main Campus vs University of Cincinnati-Main Campus →

Other Majors at Ohio State University-Main Campus

Computer Engineering ($83,342) Applied Mathematics ($82,523) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($82,448) Industrial Engineering ($80,876) Mechanical Engineering ($79,359) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,872) Engineering, Other ($78,734) Chemical Engineering ($77,455)

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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Ohio State University-Main Campus?
A score of 58/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.
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 $596,207 in decade earnings vs $665,094 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Ohio State University-Main Campus's Design and Applied Arts program stand out?
Ranked #10 of 290 programs nationally, Ohio State University-Main Campus lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →