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Design and Applied Arts at University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,461/yr (40% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

ROI 15.5x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #8 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 5%

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	$612K	$602K	$557K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.7x	15.5x	14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.9x	6.8x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,844

Out-of-state: $88,764 (6.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,412

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,000

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$64,210

35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $47,461 per year, Design and Applied Arts graduates from University of Houston significantly outpace the $33,862 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's typical career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $47,461 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #8 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $47,461 to $64,210 over five years — a 35% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Houston

University of Houston accepts 70% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 37,175 students in Houston, TX. With 41% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston →

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

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Compare Design and Applied Arts

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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 and Applied Arts at University of Houston?

A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.

Will AI replace Design and Applied Arts careers?

With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $556,705 in decade earnings vs $611,739 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Houston's Design and Applied Arts program stand out?

Ranked #8 of 290 programs nationally, University of Houston lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →