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Design and Applied Arts at Dallas College

Dallas, TX · Public · Associate Degree

serving a student body of 41,815 in Dallas, TX.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $31,478/yr, edging above the $28,654 national average for Design and Applied Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

The 69.5x 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.

Ranked #13 out of 92 programs, Dallas College's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

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

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
57
Score
59
High End
Earnings $31,478/yr (10% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$329K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
69.5x
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)
$4,740
Out-of-state: $12,000
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$40,260
28% 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

Design and Applied Arts opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

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 Dallas College

Allied Health Professions ($83,557) Nursing ($70,630) Allied Health Professions ($62,647) Electrical Engineering Technology ($59,679) Electrical Engineering Technology ($59,057) Computer Programming ($53,830) Computer Networking ($50,493) Business Administration ($46,874)

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 Dallas College's Design and Applied Arts program score?
At 57/100, Dallas College's Design and Applied Arts program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
AI exposure of 38% is a real factor. For Dallas College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($329,331) and pessimistic ($329,331) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Is Dallas College one of the best schools for Design and Applied Arts?
Ranked #13 of 92 programs nationally, Dallas College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Design and Applied Arts graduates?
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 Dallas College.
How many job openings are there for Design and Applied Arts graduates?
At 101,000 annual openings, Design and Applied Arts has a very large employment base. Dallas College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →