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Design and Applied Arts at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
26 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,016/yr (-35% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 9.0x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #210 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 $342K $355K $357K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.7x 9.0x 9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.8x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 26 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$39,280
Out-of-state: $61,600 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$63,776
-62% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,559
13.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $22,016/yr fall 35% below the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 -4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,559 against $22,016/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.2 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.

Ranked #210 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

With a 67% acceptance rate, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 2,865 students in Magnolia, AR. 45% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Arkansas 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)

Other Majors at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($67,213) Physics ($58,870) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($44,843) Agricultural Business and Management ($41,325) Accounting and Related Services ($40,138) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($37,590) Business/Commerce, General ($34,910) Psychology, General ($31,426)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
A score of 26/100 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus worth the student debt?
Median debt of $25,559 against $22,016/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 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 $357,117 in decade earnings vs $342,125 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Design and Applied Arts from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
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 →