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Design and Applied Arts at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $29,660/yr (-12% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

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

ROI 8.7x earnings multiple (4.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #175 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

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	$534K	$531K	$499K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.8x	8.7x	8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.2x	4.2x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	30	30	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$60,832

Out-of-state: $127,000 (4.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$82,420

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

10.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,179

66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $29,660/yr — within striking distance of the $33,862 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $29,660 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #175 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $49,179 show a 66% jump from the $29,660 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

A 92% acceptance rate means University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,289 in North Dartmouth, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth →

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

Other Majors at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

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 Massachusetts-Dartmouth?

A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $499,394 in decade earnings vs $534,320 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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