Design and Applied Arts at York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
29
Optimistic
28
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,567/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (38% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
ROI 5.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #197 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs

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 $565K $559K $522K
Earnings Multiple 5.7x 5.7x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 63% 57% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 28 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$98,424
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$78,740
20% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,684
72% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,567/yr, roughly in line with the $33,862 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #197 of 290 Design and Applied Arts programs, York College of Pennsylvania falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $52,684 show a 72% jump from the $30,567 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About York College of Pennsylvania

York College of Pennsylvania accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,187 students in York, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at York College of Pennsylvania →

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

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at York College of Pennsylvania

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at York College of Pennsylvania?
A score of 28/100 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 $522,086 in decade earnings vs $564,973 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →