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Design and Applied Arts at Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,627/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #131 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 $433K $438K $424K
Earnings Multiple 10.7x 10.8x 10.5x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$40,468
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,940
-43% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

At $34,627/yr, Design and Applied Arts graduates from Saint Cloud State University land near the $33,862 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 10.8x 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 2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #131 out of 290 programs, Saint Cloud State University's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Saint Cloud State University

With 95% of applicants admitted, Saint Cloud State University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 5,181 students in Saint Cloud, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Cloud State 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 Saint Cloud State University

Computer Engineering ($77,792) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($74,147) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,111) Mechanical Engineering ($70,179) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($69,943) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($69,616) Computer Science ($63,287) Business/Commerce, General ($59,378)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Saint Cloud State University's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →