Fine and Studio Arts: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn a median $41,367 four years after finishing — at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on national medians the degree does not clear a typical bill on earnings alone. Where you study and the specific role matter more here than the field average. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Fine and Studio Arts ranks #200 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 1% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California | CA | $72,428 |
| 2 | Dartmouth College | NH | $68,523 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | MI | $66,846 |
| 4 | Vassar College | NY | $63,418 |
| 5 | Sacred Heart University | CT | $61,998 |
| 6 | Connecticut College | CT | $61,321 |
| 7 | Brown University | RI | $60,985 |
| 8 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | NJ | $60,757 |
| 9 | Fordham University | NY | $60,515 |
| 10 | Binghamton University | NY | $60,299 |
| 11 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | CA | $59,721 |
| 12 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | VA | $58,652 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.