Design and Applied Arts at Forsyth Technical Community College
Winston-Salem, NC · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
58
Strong Growth
56
Base Case
52
Conservative
Earnings
$29,715/yr (4% vs median)
AI-Proof
Moderate (62% shielded)
Job Market
Very Large (101,000 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Design and Applied Arts graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $341K | $292K | $239K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 75.5x | 64.7x | 53.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 24.8x | 21.3x | 17.4x |
| Viable Career Paths | 14 of 14 | 14 of 14 | 14 of 14 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 58 | 56 | 52 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$4,512
Out-of-state: $13,728
Career Paths
Where Design and Applied Arts graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 101,000 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art directors | $111,040 | 12,300 | +4.2% | 50% |
| Architecture teachers, postsecondary | $101,480 | 900 | +2.0% | 51% |
| Special effects artists and animators | $99,800 | 5,000 | +1.6% | 48% |
| Web and digital interface designers | $98,090 | 9,100 | +7.0% | 33% |
| Fashion designers | $80,690 | 2,300 | +2.0% | 61% |
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $80,190 | 9,000 | +1.7% | 56% |
| Commercial and industrial designers | $79,450 | 2,500 | +3.2% | 53% |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $78,490 | 13,500 | +1.8% | 100% |
Compare & Explore
Design and Applied Arts Overview
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Design and Applied Arts at Forsyth Technical Community College?
This program scores 56/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 52 (conservative) to 58 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Design and Applied Arts?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Design and Applied Arts graduates retain 14 of 14 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $239,430 (conservative) to $340,648 (strong growth).
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 job openings per year nationally, making this a very large job market.
Is Design and Applied Arts at Forsyth Technical Community College worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 64.7x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 53.1x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.