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Design and Applied Arts at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,825/yr (38% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #41 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 $777K $753K $679K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.0x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$250,772
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$111,292
56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,250
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$81,608
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of University of Notre Dame's Design and Applied Arts program earn $46,825/yr in their first year — 38% above the $33,862 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The financial case is thin at 3.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,250 in median debt against $46,825 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #41 of 290 nationally, this is a top-5% Design and Applied Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $81,608 show a 74% jump from the $46,825 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Notre Dame

University of Notre Dame admits 12% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, enrolling 8,923 students in Notre Dame, IN. The average net cost of $111,292 over four years represents a 56% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Notre Dame →

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 Notre Dame

Finance and Financial Management Services ($99,222) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($96,517) Mathematics and Statistics, Other ($89,689) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($85,861) Mechanical Engineering ($84,999) Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($83,810) Chemical Engineering ($83,377) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($81,057)

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 is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at University of Notre Dame?
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 $678,884 in decade earnings vs $776,780 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Notre Dame's Design and Applied Arts program stand out?
Ranked #41 of 290 programs nationally, University of Notre Dame lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is University of Notre Dame a hidden gem for Design and Applied Arts?
After financial aid, the average student pays $111,292 over four years — 56% below the $250,772 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →