Design at Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,872/yr (-24% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
8.4x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)
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 | $561K | $556K | $519K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.5x | 8.4x | 7.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.6x | 3.6x | 3.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 29 | 28 | 36 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,832
Out-of-state: $156,168 (3.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
11.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,801
92% growth from Year 1
About Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 20,797 students in Richmond, VA.
See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Commonwealth University →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 Virginia Commonwealth University
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 Virginia Commonwealth University's Design program score?
This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Design. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Design to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Design 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.
Why are Design earnings lower at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Lower starting pay at Virginia Commonwealth University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →