Design at University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
27
Optimistic
26
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,070/yr (-5% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
2.9x earnings multiple
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Design graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $689K | $672K | $614K |
| Earnings Multiple | 3.0x | 2.9x | 2.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 27 | 26 | 35 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$232,888
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,023
103% growth from Year 1
About University of San Francisco
With a 51% acceptance rate, University of San Francisco is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 5,697 in San Francisco, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $157,980 over four years — 32% below sticker price.
See all programs and financial aid at University of San Francisco →Top Career Paths
Art directors
$111,040/yr
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480/yr
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800/yr
Compare & Explore
Design at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of San Francisco
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at University of San Francisco?
A score of 26/100 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 $613,622 in decade earnings vs $688,622 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →