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Design and Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, KS · Public · Associate Degree

serving 10,634 students in Overland Park, KS.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $32,030 at Johnson County Community College come in 12% above the national median of $28,654 for Design and Applied Arts programs.

The 82.8x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Design and Applied Arts graduates.

With first-year pay of $32,030 far exceeding the $9,341 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #11 out of 92 programs, Johnson County Community College's Design and Applied Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $32,030 to $38,139 over five years (19% 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.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
59
Score
61
High End
Earnings $32,030/yr (12% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$393K
4.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
84.4x
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)
$4,656
Out-of-state: $10,944
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,341
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,139
19% 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

Explore what Design and Applied Arts graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 92 programs nationwide.

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 Johnson County Community College

Ground Transportation ($74,114) Nursing ($64,303) Dental Assisting ($57,969) Allied Health Professions ($57,656) Criminal Justice ($55,171) Allied Health Professions ($53,512) Legal Support Services ($44,921) Culinary Arts ($38,977)

Explore the Degree Alternative

Compare Design and Applied Arts degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 59/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Design and Applied Arts at Johnson County Community College?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Design and Applied Arts field.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $335,105 in decade earnings vs $392,872 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the typical debt for Design and Applied Arts graduates from Johnson County Community College?
At $9,341 in median debt, Design and Applied Arts graduates from Johnson County Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Why does Johnson County Community College rank so high for Design and Applied Arts?
Ranked #11 of 92 programs nationally, Johnson County Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Design and Applied Arts through an apprenticeship instead of Johnson County Community College?
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?
At 101,000 annual openings, Design and Applied Arts has a very large employment base. Johnson County Community 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 →