Fine and Studio Arts

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$30,897

Median Earnings

$44,411

Schools Offering

745

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $39,194Median: $44,41175th: $52,929

Best Schools for Fine and Studio Arts by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private	97	$138,588	$31,944	$24,500	B
2	Lawrence Technological University MI · Private	65	$99,444	$32,918	N/A	-
3	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public	97	$95,697	$12,116	$26,354	C+
4	University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public	94	$89,193	$14,091	$12,250	A
5	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$89,022	$32,740	$18,262	B+
6	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY · Private	93	$87,358	$36,228	$25,000	C
7	Northeastern University MA · Private	91	$87,336	$30,915	$28,250	C
8	University of Notre Dame IN · Private	97	$83,414	$26,780	$20,250	B
9	Chapman University CA · Private	64	$78,121	$46,555	$23,000	C+
10	Art Center College of Design CA · Private	56	$76,093	$48,661	$31,050	C
11	University of Redlands CA · Private	71	$75,374	$30,031	N/A	-
12	Florida State University FL · Public	83	$73,888	$11,297	$22,250	C+
13	Boston University MA · Private	90	$72,809	$24,402	$21,250	B
14	University of Southern California CA · Private	91	$72,428	$32,740	$21,125	B
15	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public	89	$72,213	$24,953	$25,802	C
16	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus OH · Public	55	$71,605	$25,648	$25,851	C+
17	Syracuse University NY · Private	76	$71,527	$38,793	$27,000	C
18	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$69,846	$19,857	$22,500	C+
19	Western Washington University WA · Public	72	$69,715	$21,193	$20,000	C
20	University of Denver CO · Private	71	$69,251	$36,131	N/A	-
21	Washington State University WA · Public	84	$69,224	$14,971	$22,802	C+
22	The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN · Public	73	$69,047	$18,976	N/A	-
23	Laguna College of Art and Design CA · Private	22	$68,934	$42,505	$27,000	D
24	Seattle Pacific University WA · Private	68	$68,547	$24,488	$26,000	C
25	Dartmouth College NH · Private	95	$68,523	$29,519	$13,663	C+
26	Texas Christian University TX · Private	71	$68,313	$36,660	N/A	-
27	Wentworth Institute of Technology MA · Private	82	$68,160	$34,170	$27,000	C+
28	Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public	77	$68,151	$17,339	$25,100	C
29	Miami University-Oxford OH · Public	54	$67,981	$28,384	$26,000	C
30	Washington University in St Louis MO · Private	96	$67,771	$21,786	$19,089	C
31	Rhode Island School of Design RI · Private	57	$67,771	$50,507	$27,000	D
32	University of Delaware DE · Public	86	$67,742	$17,799	$26,000	C
33	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public	95	$66,846	$13,138	$19,319	C
34	University of Dayton OH · Private	83	$66,679	$29,533	N/A	-
35	New Jersey Institute of Technology NJ · Public	92	$66,488	$16,504	$27,000	C
36	California State University-Long Beach CA · Public	86	$66,435	$10,440	$17,215	C+
37	University of California-Santa Cruz CA · Public	85	$66,333	$17,890	N/A	-
38	Drexel University PA · Private	82	$66,294	$38,509	$27,000	D
39	University of California-Los Angeles CA · Public	96	$66,259	$12,548	$20,000	B+
40	Clemson University SC · Public	86	$66,150	$22,253	$26,000	C
41	Marist University NY · Private	74	$66,010	$41,544	$26,929	D
42	Colorado State University-Fort Collins CO · Public	69	$65,940	$21,279	N/A	-
43	University of Wisconsin-Madison WI · Public	91	$65,874	$17,354	$20,875	B
44	University of Arkansas AR · Public	69	$65,780	$18,209	$23,881	C
45	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$65,656	$6,541	$19,839	C+
46	University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public	83	$65,646	$15,300	$27,000	D
47	University of Oregon OR · Public	68	$65,573	$22,182	$29,050	F
48	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$65,186	$14,355	$18,839	C+
49	University of Houston TX · Public	80	$64,612	$14,276	$27,000	C
50	Endicott College MA · Private	52	$64,559	$40,654	$27,000	C

Poor Value

Is Fine and Studio Arts Worth It?

Passion Play - Manage the Cost

The financial data for Fine and Studio Arts is concerning. Average earnings of $30,897 four years after graduation make it difficult to justify high tuition. If this is your passion, pursue it - but minimize debt aggressively. Consider in-state public schools or scholarship opportunities that bring the net cost down substantially.

With 745 schools offering this major, you have significant choice. That's good news - it means you can shop for the best ROI within the field rather than settling for whatever program accepts you.

The top school for this major by earnings is Lawrence Technological University, where graduates earn $99,444 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Fine and Studio Arts All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

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Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.