Home › Century College › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at Century College

White Bear Lake, MN · Public · Associate Degree

serving 5,971 students in White Bear Lake, MN.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Century College's Design and Applied Arts program earn $39,850/yr in their first year — 39% above the $28,654 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 33.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 38% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Design and Applied Arts graduates.

At $13,000 in median debt against $39,850 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #22 out of 92 programs, Century College's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $39,850 to $40,545 over five years (2% gain). This trade may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

With 9 registered apprenticeships mapped to Design and Applied Arts, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

53 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
51
Low End
53
Score
55
High End
Earnings $39,850/yr (39% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$417K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
33.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
14 of 14
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$12,364
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,545
2% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Design and Applied Arts graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Art directors $111,040 +4.2% 50%
Architecture teachers, postsecondary $101,480 +2.0% 51%
Special effects artists and animators $99,800 +1.6% 48%
Art directors
$111,040
+4.2% growth 50% AI-proof
Architecture teachers, postsecondary
$101,480
+2.0% growth 51% AI-proof
Special effects artists and animators
$99,800
+1.6% growth 48% AI-proof

View all 14 career paths with full salary data →

Design and Applied Arts Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Design and Applied Arts — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Century College and 91 other schools.

Read the full Design and Applied Arts career guide →

Compare & Explore

Design and Applied Arts Overview

View all 92 schools offering Design and Applied Arts →

Design and Applied Arts at Other Schools

Gnomon ($80,221) Miami Ad School-Atlanta ($56,833) Miami Ad School ($56,833) Interior Designers Institute ($52,768) The New School ($44,640) Austin Community College District ($40,289) Minneapolis Community and Technical College ($40,230) Waukesha County Technical College ($39,095)

Other Majors at Century College

Nursing ($66,512) Allied Health Professions ($65,588) Criminal Justice ($54,174) HVAC Technology ($52,870) HVAC Technology ($52,105) Dental Assisting ($47,789) Accounting ($46,996) Human Services ($41,007)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Design and Applied Arts degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Design and Applied Arts at Century College?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.
What's the AI risk for Design and Applied Arts graduates from Century College?
AI exposure of 38% is a real factor. For Century College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($416,919) and pessimistic ($416,919) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Why does Century College rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
The #22 ranking out of 92 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Design and Applied Arts graduates?
There are 9 registered apprenticeships connected to Design and Applied Arts occupations, such as Bank-Note Designer and Commercial Designer. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Design and Applied Arts workers?
The career paths mapped to Design and Applied Arts have roughly 101,000 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →