Design and Applied Arts at University of Oregon

Eugene, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,844/yr (-15% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #123 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 $715K $697K $633K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.4x 11.1x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 37 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$62,676
Out-of-state: $173,208 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,128
-39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,000
11.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,994
125% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Oregon's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $28,844/yr — within striking distance of the $33,862 national average for this field.

The 11.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $28,000 debt-to-$28,844 income ratio translates to about 12 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #123 out of 290 programs, University of Oregon's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $28,844 to $64,994 over five years (125% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Oregon

A 85% acceptance rate means University of Oregon is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 19,758 in Eugene, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Oregon →

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 Oregon

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Oregon's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design and Applied Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →