Home › Guilford Technical Community College › Design and Applied Arts

Design and Applied Arts at Guilford Technical Community College

Jamestown, NC · Public · Associate Degree

serving 8,179 students in Jamestown, NC.

Program Analysis

Guilford Technical Community College's Design and Applied Arts program produces graduates earning $24,827/yr — within striking distance of the $28,654 national average for this trade.

The 79.1x 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 exposure is significant at 38% of job tasks, producing a 32% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $11,708 in median debt clears fast against $24,827 in annual earnings.

Ranked #24 out of 92 programs, Guilford Technical Community College's Design and Applied Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $24,827 to $35,360 shows 42% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

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

53 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
53
Score
55
High End
Earnings $24,827/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$382K
9.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
82.3x
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)
$4,638
Out-of-state: $15,390
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,708
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$35,360
42% 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 Guilford Technical Community College

Nursing ($67,200) Dental Assisting ($59,473) Vehicle Repair Technology ($45,604) Allied Health Professions ($45,078) Vehicle Repair Technology ($42,264) Allied Health Professions ($40,595) Business Administration ($40,215) Computer Science ($37,728)

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 53/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Design and Applied Arts at Guilford Technical Community College?
This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Design and Applied Arts graduates.
Will AI affect Design and Applied Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $259,744 in decade earnings vs $381,613 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can I learn Design and Applied Arts through an apprenticeship instead of Guilford Technical Community College?
If Guilford Technical Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 9 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Design and Applied Arts. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
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 Guilford Technical Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in NC may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →