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Design and Applied Arts at Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, NY · Public · Associate Degree

Fashion Institute of Technology's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 7,575 in New York, NY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $14,361/yr fall 50% below the $28,654 national median for Design and Applied Arts. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 19.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Design and Applied Arts programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 38% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Design and Applied Arts graduates.

Median debt of $11,640 represents roughly 10 months of the $14,361 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #85 of 92 Design and Applied Arts programs, Fashion Institute of Technology falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $44,559 show a 210% jump from the $14,361 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

34 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
28
Low End
34
Score
37
High End
Earnings $14,361/yr (-50% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$252K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
20.4x
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)
$12,340
Out-of-state: $33,500
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,640
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,559
210% 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 Fashion Institute of Technology

Specialized Sales & Marketing ($23,778) Public Relations & Advertising ($21,006)

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 Fashion Institute of Technology's Design and Applied Arts program score?
A score of 34/100 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?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $150,248 in decade earnings vs $252,016 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Fashion Institute of Technology a good choice for Design and Applied Arts despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Fashion Institute of Technology's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Design and Applied Arts?
Beyond Fashion Institute of Technology's classroom route, 9 registered apprenticeships map to Design and Applied Arts careers — including Bank-Note Designer. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
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 Fashion Institute of Technology graduates specifically, local market conditions in NY may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →