Designat Temple University
Graduates earn $43,530/yr in their first year — about 29.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $609K; scenarios range from $563K to $620K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Temple University
Temple University Design graduates command $43,530/yr out of the gate, well above the $33,862 national median. That 29% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.
At 6.9x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $26,000 debt-to-$43,530 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #38 out of 290 programs, Temple University's Design program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,530 to $63,888 shows 47% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Temple University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Design
How Temple University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Temple University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Temple University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Design offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Design at Temple University
How does Temple University's Design program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design 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 does Temple University rank so high for Design?
The #38 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.