Home › University of Northwestern-St Paul › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at University of Northwestern-St Paul

Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
33 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
34
Optimistic
33
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,966/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #145 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 50%

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 $457K $460K $442K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.1x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 34 33 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$147,320
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$100,560
32% less than sticker · See by income

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,966 at University of Northwestern-St Paul come in 12% above the national median of $33,862 for Design and Applied Arts programs.

At 3.1x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 3% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Design and Applied Arts career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

A #145 ranking among 290 Design and Applied Arts programs places University of Northwestern-St Paul in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

About University of Northwestern-St Paul

University of Northwestern-St Paul accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,495 students in Saint Paul, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $100,560 — 32% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northwestern-St Paul →

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 Northwestern-St Paul

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,121) Engineering, General ($68,516) Accounting and Related Services ($62,603) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($54,588) Marketing ($51,013) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($41,278) Bible/Biblical Studies ($41,123) Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($40,361)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 33/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Design and Applied Arts at University of Northwestern-St Paul?
At 33/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Design and Applied Arts programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design and Applied Arts at University of Northwestern-St Paul?
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →