Designat University of Arkansas
Graduates earn $41,782/yr in their first year — about 23.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $485K; scenarios range from $462K to $484K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arkansas
First-year earnings of $41,782 at University of Arkansas come in 23% above the national median of $33,862 for Design programs.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Design's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $22,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,782 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #63 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
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 University of Arkansas'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 University of Arkansas stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arkansas
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arkansas, 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 University of Arkansas
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at University of Arkansas?
A score of 45/100 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 $462,232 in decade earnings vs $484,119 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Arkansas's Design program stand out?
Ranked #63 of 290 programs nationally, University of Arkansas lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.