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Design and Applied Arts at University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,938/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 21.4x earnings multiple (7.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs Top 10%

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 $554K $549K $514K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.6x 21.4x 20.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.0x 7.9x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$25,640
Out-of-state: $69,296 (7.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$40,172
-57% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,000
5.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,896
41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of South Florida's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $38,938/yr — above the $33,862 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,000 in median debt clears quickly against $38,938 in annual earnings.

Ranked #25 of 290 programs, University of South Florida's Design and Applied Arts program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $38,938 to $54,896 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of South Florida

University of South Florida's 41% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 36,299 students enrolled in Tampa, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Florida →

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 South Florida

Computer Engineering ($83,660) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,825) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,879) Chemical Engineering ($70,659) Civil Engineering ($70,047) Mechanical Engineering ($70,046) Industrial Engineering ($69,672) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($61,046)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 and Applied Arts at University of South Florida?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.
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 $514,024 in decade earnings vs $554,080 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →