Design at University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,377/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
9.2x earnings multiple (4.5x 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 | $531K | $528K | $497K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.3x | 9.2x | 8.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.5x | 4.5x | 4.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 37 | 36 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,352
Out-of-state: $117,440 (4.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,881
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,710
48% growth from Year 1
About University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with 21,814 students enrolled in Chicago, IL. With 50% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Illinois Chicago →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 Illinois Chicago
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
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 Illinois Chicago's Design program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design 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 →