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Design and Applied Arts at Ohio University-Southern Campus

Ironton, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,716/yr (-27% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 24.3x earnings multiple (16.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #102 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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 $612K $602K $557K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.8x 24.3x 22.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 16.7x 16.4x 15.2x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 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)
$24,712
Out-of-state: $36,680 (16.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$21,312
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
13.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,422
116% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Ohio University-Southern Campus's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $24,716/yr, trailing the $33,862 national average by 27%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 24.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt load exceeds a year of the $24,716 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

Ranked #102 out of 290 programs, Ohio University-Southern Campus's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $24,716 to $53,422 over five years (116% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Ohio University-Southern Campus

with a smaller student body of 461 in Ironton, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ohio University-Southern 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)

Other Majors at Ohio University-Southern Campus

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,809) Computer Science ($73,932) Industrial Engineering ($70,199) Mechanical Engineering ($69,161) Management Information Systems and Services ($68,154) Chemical Engineering ($67,322) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($64,226) Civil Engineering ($63,884)

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

How does Ohio University-Southern Campus's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Ohio University-Southern Campus Design and Applied Arts graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts 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.
Why are Design and Applied Arts earnings lower at Ohio University-Southern Campus?
Lower starting pay at Ohio University-Southern Campus may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →