Design at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
42
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,061/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
10.5x earnings multiple (4.4x 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 | $573K | $567K | $528K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.6x | 10.5x | 9.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 4.4x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 42 | 42 | 48 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,936
Out-of-state: $127,896 (4.4x ROI)
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,974
55% growth from Year 1
About The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
With a 46% acceptance rate, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is moderately selective, with 28,763 students enrolled in Knoxville, TN.
See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville →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 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville
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
How does The University of Tennessee-Knoxville's Design program score?
This program scores 42/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →