Design at Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,959/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
13.5x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $498K | $498K | $473K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 13.5x | 13.5x | 12.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.5x | 6.5x | 6.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 46 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,912
Out-of-state: $76,080 (6.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,000
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,480
21% growth from Year 1
About Sam Houston State University
A 85% acceptance rate means Sam Houston State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 18,138 in Huntsville, TX.
See all programs and financial aid at Sam Houston State University →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Design at Other Schools
Other Majors at Sam Houston State University
Consider the Trade Route?
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 at Sam Houston State University?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $472,657 in decade earnings vs $498,201 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Sam Houston State University's Design program stand out?
Ranked #60 of 290 programs nationally, Sam Houston State University lands in the top 25%. 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 →