Fine and Studio Arts: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 465 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$294,261 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−115%Modeled 10-year ROI
$41,265Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$41,265Median reported earnings · year 4
$40,957Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,500Median federal debt
6thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
465Reporting programs
440With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,627
- Federal debt
- $11,594
- Reporting programs
- 6
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $34,728
- Federal debt
- $10,250
- Reporting programs
- 38
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,265
- Federal debt
- $25,500
- Reporting programs
- 465
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,763
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 60
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,466
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$36,511National median$41,26575th percentile$45,548
440 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Southern California$72,4282Dartmouth College$68,5233University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$66,8464Vassar College$63,4185Sacred Heart University$61,9986Connecticut College$61,3217Brown University$60,9858Ramapo College of New Jersey$60,7579Fordham University$60,51510Binghamton University$60,299Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1121 · 13 crosswalk linksCraft ArtistsSOC 27-1012 · 9 crosswalk linksFine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSOC 27-1013 · 9 crosswalk linksSpecial Effects Artists and AnimatorsSOC 27-1014 · 3 crosswalk linksArtists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 27-1019 · 2 crosswalk linksJewelers and Precious Stone and Metal WorkersSOC 51-9071 · 2 crosswalk linksAppraisers of Personal and Business PropertySOC 13-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksArchivistsSOC 25-4011 · 1 crosswalk linksArt DirectorsSOC 27-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksCuratorsSOC 25-4012 · 1 crosswalk linksMuseum Technicians and ConservatorsSOC 25-4013 · 1 crosswalk linksPhotographersSOC 27-4021 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $72,428 | $21,125 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Dartmouth CollegeBachelor's Degree | Hanover, NH | $68,523 | $13,663 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $66,846 | $19,319 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Vassar CollegeBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $63,418 | $18,985 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Sacred Heart UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfield, CT | $61,998 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Connecticut CollegeBachelor's Degree | New London, CT | $61,321 | $23,250 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $60,985 | $17,300 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | $60,757 | $25,071 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $60,515 | $24,495 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Binghamton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Vestal, NY | $60,299 | $22,286 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $59,721 | $19,198 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $58,652 | $26,323 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $58,468 | $23,600 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,705 | $23,477 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $56,160 | $10,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $55,891 | $27,000 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $55,713 | $20,000 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Marist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $55,296 | $25,529 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Manhattanville UniversityBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $55,180 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Williams CollegeBachelor's Degree | Williamstown, MA | $55,012 | $11,850 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Bridgewater CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bridgewater, VA | $54,910 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Howard UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $54,696 | Not available | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $54,579 | $19,500 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $54,093 | $23,001 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Moravian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $54,090 | $27,000 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $54,007 | $27,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $53,805 | $13,667 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $53,805 | $13,667 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,726 | $21,500 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | St Lawrence UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canton, NY | $53,720 | Not available | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Kenyon CollegeBachelor's Degree | Gambier, OH | $53,620 | $15,500 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Skidmore CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $53,602 | $18,500 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $53,300 | $21,947 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $53,191 | $25,500 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Massachusetts-LowellBachelor's Degree | Lowell, MA | $52,637 | $27,000 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $52,450 | $25,975 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $52,450 | $25,975 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $52,450 | $25,975 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $52,405 | $21,111 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Texas Woman's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $52,306 | $26,019 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $51,699 | $13,254 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $51,386 | $20,125 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $51,254 | $22,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $51,033 | $25,000 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $50,952 | $23,750 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $50,952 | $23,750 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $50,952 | $23,750 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $50,952 | $23,750 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $50,952 | $23,750 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $50,892 | $27,846 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Adelphi UniversityBachelor's Degree | Garden City, NY | $50,759 | $26,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Pace UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $50,623 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Salem State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salem, MA | $50,397 | $27,000 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | CUNY Lehman CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $50,334 | $9,630 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $50,253 | $26,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $50,189 | $27,000 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $50,166 | $23,506 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Shepherd UniversityBachelor's Degree | Shepherdstown, WV | $50,124 | $21,500 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $50,098 | $30,875 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $49,967 | Not available | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Midwestern State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita Falls, TX | $49,896 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $49,842 | $25,490 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $49,722 | $27,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $49,538 | $27,000 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | University of Nebraska at KearneyBachelor's Degree | Kearney, NE | $49,521 | $16,101 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterBachelor's Degree | Whitewater, WI | $49,506 | $25,250 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $49,478 | $27,000 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $49,233 | $21,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $48,684 | $19,316 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $48,506 | $15,218 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Winona State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winona, MN | $48,258 | Not available | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $48,238 | $17,978 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Plymouth State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Plymouth, NH | $48,229 | $27,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $48,180 | $17,500 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Salve Regina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newport, RI | $48,067 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of MemphisBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $48,064 | $28,850 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Minnesota State University-MankatoBachelor's Degree | Mankato, MN | $47,822 | $27,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $47,730 | $24,057 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $47,639 | $24,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Saint Cloud State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Cloud, MN | $47,619 | $31,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Biola UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Mirada, CA | $47,596 | $27,000 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $47,297 | $21,500 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $47,221 | $26,097 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $47,176 | $21,708 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $47,106 | $26,562 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | New England Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | East Greenwich, RI | $47,098 | $31,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $46,899 | $26,849 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Keene State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keene, NH | $46,850 | $27,000 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $46,779 | $22,036 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Montana State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bozeman, MT | $46,741 | $26,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $46,606 | $14,750 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $46,502 | $25,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $46,428 | $16,978 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | University of WyomingBachelor's Degree | Laramie, WY | $46,371 | $15,880 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Old Dominion UniversityBachelor's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $46,308 | $31,000 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Lindenwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Charles, MO | $46,244 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $46,173 | $14,000 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $46,136 | $16,625 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $46,117 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | University of Massachusetts-AmherstBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $46,027 | $27,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.