Designat University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Graduates earn $42,462/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $593K; scenarios range from $550K to $603K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Minnesota
First-year earnings of $42,462 put University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's Design program 25% above the national median of $33,862 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
A 9.0x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.
The 9% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Design career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $22,500 against $42,462/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ranks #36 among 290 Design programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 45% earnings increase from $42,462 to $61,564 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
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 Minnesota'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 Minnesota stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Minnesota
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Minnesota, 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 Minnesota
What does a 50/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
At 50/100, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's Design program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities?
The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities one of the best schools for Design?
Among 290 Design programs, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's #36 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.