Home › University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $35,439/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (38% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

ROI 3.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #188 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

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	$492K	$492K	$468K
Earnings Multiple	3.5x	3.5x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	63%	57%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	28	28	35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$141,680

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$81,444

43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

8.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$46,609

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,439/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 3.5x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$35,439 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #188 out of 290 programs, University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne's financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,439 to $46,609 shows 32% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne accepts 98% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,599 in Fort Wayne, IN. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $81,444 over four years represents a 43% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne →

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 Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

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

How does University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne's Design and Applied Arts program score?

This program scores 28/100 — 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 →