Designat University of Kentucky
Graduates earn $42,168/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $562K; scenarios range from $524K to $568K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Kentucky
Graduates earn $42,168/yr, edging above the $33,862 national average for Design — 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 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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Kentucky's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Design
How University of Kentucky stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Kentucky
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Kentucky, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Design offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Design at University of Kentucky
How does University of Kentucky's Design program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design graduates.
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.
Why does University of Kentucky rank so high for Design?
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.