Design and Applied Arts at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,858/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #42 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 $501K $500K $475K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.5x 16.5x 15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.4x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 48 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)
$30,372
Out-of-state: $93,356 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,680
-34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,500
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,573
25% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $38,858/yr — above the $33,862 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,500 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,858 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #42 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $38,858 to $48,573 over five years — a 25% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of North Carolina at Greensboro

A 90% acceptance rate means University of North Carolina at Greensboro is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 13,848 in Greensboro, NC. 47% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina at Greensboro →

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 North Carolina at Greensboro

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 North Carolina at Greensboro?
A score of 48/100 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 $474,721 in decade earnings vs $500,990 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Design and Applied Arts program stand out?
Ranked #42 of 290 programs nationally, University of North Carolina at Greensboro lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →