Design at Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Design and Applied Arts
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,119/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI
8.2x earnings multiple (4.3x 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 | $527K | $524K | $494K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.3x | 8.2x | 7.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.3x | 4.3x | 4.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 63% | 57% | 46% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 43 | 42 | 46 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,824
Out-of-state: $121,144 (4.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,917
8.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,038
30% growth from Year 1
About Winthrop University
Winthrop University has a 75% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 3,424 students in Rock Hill, SC.
See all programs and financial aid at Winthrop 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 Winthrop 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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design at Winthrop University?
A score of 42/100 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 $493,788 in decade earnings vs $526,743 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →