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Design and Applied Arts at Suffolk County Community College

Selden, NY · Public · Associate Degree

enrolling 14,134 students in Selden, NY.

Program Analysis

Suffolk County Community College's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $24,907/yr — within striking distance of the $28,654 national average for this trade.

With a 31.9x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $8,906 in median debt clears fast against $24,907 in annual earnings.

A #58 ranking among 92 Design and Applied Arts programs places Suffolk County Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $24,907-to-$38,842 earnings arc over five years reflects a 56% 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.

42 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
42
Score
45
High End
Earnings $24,907/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$432K
11.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
33.5x
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)
$12,880
Out-of-state: $24,160
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,906
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,842
56% 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 Suffolk County Community 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) Century College ($43,778) Austin Community College District ($40,289) Minneapolis Community and Technical College ($40,230)

Other Majors at Suffolk County Community College

Nursing ($78,850) Vehicle Repair Technology ($42,496) Business Administration ($34,816) Criminal Justice ($31,617) Audio & Video Technology ($30,575) Accounting ($27,170) Liberal Arts & Humanities ($26,874) Visual & Performing Arts ($23,694)

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

What does a 42/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Design and Applied Arts at Suffolk County Community College?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Design and Applied Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Will AI affect Design and Applied Arts careers?
The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — Suffolk County Community College graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
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 Suffolk County Community College.
How many job openings are there for Design and Applied Arts graduates?
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 →