Designat The University of Texas at Austin
Graduates earn $44,506/yr in their first year — about 31.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $829K; scenarios range from $740K to $860K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UT Austin
Your journey through Design and Applied Arts at UT Austin places you directly within one of the nation's most dynamic creative economies. The program's strong outcomes aren't just about rigorous academics; they reflect Austin's booming tech and startup scene, where demand for skilled designers is incredibly high. You'll find graduates shaping user experiences at major tech firms, leading creative teams at innovative agencies, or even building their own design studios in a city that truly values visual communication and digital product development.
The curriculum likely emphasizes a blend of traditional design principles with cutting-edge digital tools, preparing you for roles that demand both artistic vision and technical proficiency. However, as the field evolves rapidly with AI advancements, certain production-oriented tasks may shift. Therefore, focus on cultivating uniquely human skills like strategic thinking, empathy-driven design, and complex problem-solving. These are the aspects of design that will always set you apart and ensure your career remains vibrant.
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 UT Austin'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 UT Austin stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UT Austin
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UT Austin, 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 UT Austin
What does a 64/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design at The University of Texas at Austin?
At 64/100, The University of Texas at Austin's Design program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design at The University of Texas at Austin?
The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is The University of Texas at Austin one of the best schools for Design?
Among 290 Design programs, The University of Texas at Austin's #4 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.