Visual and Performing Arts, General: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 2 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$57,561 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$57,561Median year-4 earnings
$26,945Average institution net-price context
$22,894Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Visual and Performing Arts, General
How much do Visual and Performing Arts, General undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $57,561 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $22,894. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Visual and Performing Arts, General?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $57,561 to $57,561 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Visual and Performing Arts, General?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 8 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$57,561Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,504Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,894Median federal debt
64thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
351IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,561
- Federal debt
- $22,894
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $32,304
- Federal debt
- $10,500
- Reporting programs
- 14
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,156
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 81
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,439
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,318
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
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$57,561National median$57,56175th percentile$57,561
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 2 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
2 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$57,5612Full Sail UniversityNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,620 median wage93,560 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1121+2.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Master's degree$47,570–$163,350 10th–90th percentileArtists and Related Workers, All Other$71,240 median wage6,930 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1019+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$36,580–$136,660 10th–90th percentilePhotographers$44,660 median wage51,760 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-4021-0.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$30,820–$91,810 10th–90th percentileArt Directors$114,850 median wage53,070 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1011+4.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$64,900–$213,050 10th–90th percentileSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$102,030 median wage19,970 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1014-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 4.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$58,600–$177,110 10th–90th percentileGraphic Designers$62,960 median wage197,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1024-1.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 16k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$39,520–$104,910 10th–90th percentileFine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators$55,490 median wage11,220 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1013-2.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$31,630–$144,210 10th–90th percentileCraft Artists$46,080 median wage4,580 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-1012+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1k annual openingsTypical entry education: No formal educational credential$25,960–$71,990 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Milwaukee, WI | $57,561 | $25,787 | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,014 |
| 2 | Full Sail UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Winter Park, FL | Not available | $20,000 | WithheldBaseline needed | $38,875 |
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.