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Design and Applied Arts at Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Conway, SC · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 5,962 in Conway, SC.

Program Analysis

At $22,024 per year, Design and Applied Arts graduates from Horry-Georgetown Technical College earn below the $28,654 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 32.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 22% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Design and Applied Arts career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

A #61 ranking among 92 Design and Applied Arts programs places Horry-Georgetown Technical College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 28% earnings increase from $22,024 to $28,147 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 9 apprenticeship pathways connected to Design and Applied Arts reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

41 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
36
Low End
41
Score
43
High End
Earnings $22,024/yr (-23% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$295K
6.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
33.0x
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)
$8,936
Out-of-state: $17,672
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$28,147
28% 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 Horry-Georgetown Technical College

Nursing ($66,034) Dental Assisting ($52,297) Allied Health Professions ($51,730) Medical Assisting ($43,389) Allied Health Professions ($42,533) Practical Nursing ($40,724) HVAC Technology ($40,480) Data Processing ($38,825)

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Compare Design and Applied Arts degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Design and Applied Arts program score?
A score of 41/100 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 $230,419 in decade earnings vs $294,757 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Horry-Georgetown Technical College a good choice for Design and Applied Arts despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at Horry-Georgetown Technical 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?
If Horry-Georgetown Technical 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.
What's the job market like for Design and Applied Arts from Horry-Georgetown Technical College?
Job availability for Design and Applied Arts is strong — 101,000 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Horry-Georgetown Technical College graduates specifically, local market conditions in SC may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →