Designat Washington University in St Louis
Graduates earn $33,615/yr in their first year — about 1.0% below the national Design average. Base-case 10-year earnings $431K; scenarios range from $419K to $425K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Washington University in St Louis
WashU's Design and Applied Arts program, while housed within an elite university, places graduates into a field with diverse salary outcomes. The earnings data reflects that many design roles, especially outside of major coastal tech and design hubs, often start at a more moderate level. Your education here emphasizes critical thinking and a broad artistic foundation, which can be invaluable for long-term career growth, but might not immediately translate to the highest entry-level design salaries in the broader market, particularly compared to specialized tech-focused programs.
The high AI risk for many design roles means that foundational skills in areas like web design or animation can be augmented or even partially automated. However, WashU's strength lies in fostering a strategic, conceptual approach to design. Local opportunities in St. Louis for roles like web and digital interface designers exist within corporate marketing departments and growing agencies. To truly stand out and mitigate AI risk, focus on developing unique conceptual problem-solving and strategic thinking, making yourself indispensable beyond what AI can generate.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Washington University in St Louis's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Design
How Washington University in St Louis stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Washington University in St Louis
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Washington University in St Louis, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Design offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Design trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Design at Washington University in St Louis
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Washington University in St Louis?
A score of 27/100 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 $418,800 in decade earnings vs $425,448 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Washington University in St Louis a hidden gem for Design?
After financial aid, the average student pays $88,468 over four years — 65% below the $251,928 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.