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Design and Applied Arts at Utah State University

Logan, UT · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,431/yr (55% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 15.0x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #77 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 $561K $555K $519K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.2x 15.0x 14.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.6x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 42
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,912
Out-of-state: $99,208 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,476
-39% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$20,542
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Utah State University Design and Applied Arts graduates command $52,431/yr out of the gate, well above the $33,862 national median. That 55% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.0x 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.

At #77 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, Utah State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Utah State University

A 94% acceptance rate means Utah State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 20,342 students in Logan, UT.

See all programs and financial aid at Utah State University →

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) Interior Designers Institute ($51,188) Wentworth Institute of Technology ($50,599)

Other Majors at Utah State University

Public Health ($76,451) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,055) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($71,335) Mechanical Engineering ($69,406) Civil Engineering ($68,025) International Business ($65,745) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($65,486) Information Science/Studies ($61,896)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Design and Applied Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Utah State University?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $518,864 in decade earnings vs $560,618 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →