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Design and Applied Arts at University of Dayton

Dayton, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
40
Optimistic
39
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,609/yr (29% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #111 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design and Applied Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $586K $578K $537K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.0x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 39 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$190,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$124,944
34% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,018
38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Dayton Design and Applied Arts graduates command $43,609/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.

An earnings multiple of 3.0x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #111 out of 290 programs, University of Dayton's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,609 to $60,018 shows 38% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Dayton

University of Dayton's 62% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 8,099 in Dayton, OH. After financial aid, the average student pays $124,944 over four years — 34% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Dayton →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
View all 14 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 290 schools offering Design and Applied Arts →

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Carnegie Mellon University ($66,274) University of Southern California ($64,846) University of Washington-Seattle Campus ($63,449) University of California-Los Angeles ($57,615) Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus ($52,694) University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ($52,526) Utah State University ($52,431) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188)

Other Majors at University of Dayton

Chemical Engineering ($79,865) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,409) Computer Science ($74,052) Mechanical Engineering ($71,911) Civil Engineering ($71,411) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($70,559) Management Information Systems and Services ($69,995) Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($66,055)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Dayton's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 39/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts 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 →