Design at University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,816/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
11.4x earnings multiple (3.8x 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 | $712K | $693K | $631K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.7x | 11.4x | 10.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.9x | 3.8x | 3.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 42 | 51 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,988
Out-of-state: $184,096 (3.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,924
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,513
106% growth from Year 1
About University of California-Davis
A 42% admission rate makes University of California-Davis accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with 31,777 students enrolled in Davis, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Davis →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 University of California-Davis
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at University of California-Davis?
A score of 42/100 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 $630,624 in decade earnings vs $711,588 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →