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Design and Applied Arts at Spokane Falls Community College

Spokane, WA · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 2,881 in Spokane, WA.

Program Analysis

Spokane Falls Community College's Design and Applied Arts graduates start at $21,508/yr, trailing the $28,654 national average by 25%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 27.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Design and Applied Arts's career paths, with 38% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $11,756 represents roughly 7 months of the $21,508 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #68 of 92 Design and Applied Arts programs, Spokane Falls Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Design and Applied Arts offers 9 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

39 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
39
Score
41
High End
Earnings $21,508/yr (-25% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$225K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
27.7x
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 (In-State)
$8,116
Out-of-state: $10,988
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,756
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$33,674
57% 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 Spokane Falls Community College

Medical Assisting ($47,797) Mental Health Services ($45,849) Marketing ($44,748) IT Management ($39,022) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($28,078) Teacher Education ($25,777)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Design and Applied Arts degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Spokane Falls Community College's Design and Applied Arts program score?
A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
How vulnerable is Design and Applied Arts to AI automation?
The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — Spokane Falls Community College graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Spokane Falls Community College a good choice for Design and Applied Arts despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Spokane Falls Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Design and Applied Arts?
The DOL recognizes 9 apprenticeship pathways related to Design and Applied Arts. For students weighing Spokane Falls Community College's program cost against alternatives, apprenticeships offer zero-tuition entry with paid employment from day one.
Will Design and Applied Arts graduates from Spokane Falls Community College find jobs?
At 101,000 annual openings, Design and Applied Arts has a very large employment base. Spokane Falls 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 →