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Design and Applied Arts at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,168/yr (25% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #34 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 25%

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 $568K $562K $524K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.7x 10.6x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.2x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$52,848
Out-of-state: $133,624 (4.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,872
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,495
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,168/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

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

The $26,250 debt-to-$42,168 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #34 out of 290 programs, University of Kentucky's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $42,168 to $57,495 shows 36% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 23,189 students in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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 Kentucky

Computer Engineering ($79,620) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,006) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,461) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($71,293) Mechanical Engineering ($68,448) Civil Engineering ($67,044) Chemical Engineering ($65,389) Accounting and Related Services ($59,474)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Kentucky's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts graduates.
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.
Why does University of Kentucky rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #34 ranking out of 290 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →