Designat University of Notre Dame
Graduates earn $46,825/yr in their first year — about 38.0% above the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $753K; scenarios range from $679K to $777K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Notre Dame
A Notre Dame Design and Applied Arts degree signifies more than just creative talent; it represents a rigorous, well-rounded education highly valued by employers. Your strong career prospects are a testament to the university's national prestige and extensive alumni network, which opens doors in major design hubs far beyond Indiana. This program’s "applied" focus ensures you graduate with practical, problem-solving skills, making you attractive to diverse sectors like tech (UX/UI), advertising agencies, entertainment studios, and corporate innovation teams.
While emerging AI tools present challenges to some design roles, Notre Dame's emphasis on critical thinking and strategic problem-solving equips you to lead and innovate with these technologies, rather than being replaced by them. To truly maximize your potential, build a versatile portfolio showcasing your unique vision and actively engage with the robust Notre Dame professional community from day one.
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 Notre Dame'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 Notre Dame stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Notre Dame
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Notre Dame, 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 Notre Dame
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at University of Notre Dame?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Design 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 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?
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.