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Design and Applied Arts at Roosevelt University

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $19,028/yr (-44% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

ROI 4.1x earnings multiple

Ranked #256 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	$321K	$335K	$341K
Earnings Multiple	4.0x	4.1x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	22	22	24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$81,120

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$80,608

1% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,048

15.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $19,028/yr fall 44% below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

An earnings multiple of 4.1x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 -6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,048 against $19,028/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.3 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #256 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Roosevelt University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Roosevelt University

Roosevelt University has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 2,583 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Roosevelt 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

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Roosevelt University?

A score of 22/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Design and Applied Arts at Roosevelt University worth the student debt?

Median debt of $25,048 against $19,028/yr starting salary means roughly 1.3 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

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 $341,227 in decade earnings vs $320,661 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from Roosevelt University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →