Home › Cuyahoga Community College District › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

Cleveland, OH · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 12,641 students in Cleveland, OH.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $22,517/yr fall 21% below the $28,654 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

With a 50.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Design and Applied Arts carry above-average AI exposure (38% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

At $6,000 in median debt against $22,517 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #43 ranking among 92 Design and Applied Arts programs places Cuyahoga Community College District in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The $22,517-to-$36,586 earnings arc over five years reflects a 62% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 9 apprenticeship pathways connected to Design and Applied Arts reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
46
Score
48
High End
Earnings $22,517/yr (-21% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$395K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.9x
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 (In-State)
$7,472
Out-of-state: $17,472
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,000
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,586
62% 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

From day-one roles to senior positions, Design and Applied Arts careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering arts & design.

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) Century College ($43,778) Austin Community College District ($40,289) Minneapolis Community and Technical College ($40,230)

Other Majors at Cuyahoga Community College District

Nursing ($62,630) Allied Health Professions ($52,018) Dental Assisting ($49,218) Practical Nursing ($48,692) Vehicle Repair Technology ($46,249) Information Science ($45,238) Accounting ($44,532) Health Administration ($41,914)

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

How does Cuyahoga Community College District's Design and Applied Arts program score?
This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Should I worry about AI if I study Design and Applied Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District?
Our scenarios model 38% of Design and Applied Arts tasks as AI-exposed. That doesn't mean job loss — it means role evolution. Cuyahoga Community College District's 46/100 score weights this risk into the overall assessment.
What's the typical debt for Design and Applied Arts graduates from Cuyahoga Community College District?
Median debt of just $6,000 against $22,517/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why are Design and Applied Arts earnings lower at Cuyahoga Community College District?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Design and Applied Arts program at Cuyahoga Community College District?
Yes — 9 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Design and Applied Arts career paths, including Bank-Note Designer. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Cuyahoga Community College District.
How many job openings are there for Design and Applied Arts graduates?
Job availability for Design and Applied Arts is strong — 101,000 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Cuyahoga Community College District graduates specifically, local market conditions in OH may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →