Fine and Studio Arts: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 50.07. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 2,156 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 151 | 4,942 | $32,800 | $36,104 | $9,616 4 programs |
| Associate's degree | 422 | 5,108 | $24,176 | $31,650 | $12,000 10 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 1,132 | 24,445 | $31,108 | $41,367 | $23,456 367 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 6 | 0 | Data unavailable | $26,285 | Data unavailable |
| Master's degree | 329 | 2,977 | $38,763 | $49,079 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 66 | 212 | $57,403 | $68,718 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 2 | 0 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 48 | 86 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee WI · Public · 21 graduates measured | $39,034 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Gemological Institute of America-Carlsbad CA · Private, nonprofit · 52 graduates measured | $37,994 | $41,627 | $8,233 |
| Gemological Institute of America-New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 52 graduates measured | $37,994 | $41,627 | $8,233 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College District TX · Public · 19 graduates measured | $32,025 | $36,991 | $14,500 |
| College of Southern Nevada NV · Public · 17 graduates measured | $28,077 | $23,204 | Data unavailable |
| Full Sail University FL · Private, for-profit · 39 graduates measured | $27,960 | $32,703 | $30,500 |
| Fashion Institute of Technology NY · Public · 18 graduates measured | $27,462 | $30,454 | $11,625 |
| Bristol Community College MA · Public · 17 graduates measured | $27,381 | $38,470 | $12,000 |
| Hudson County Community College NJ · Public · 36 graduates measured | $26,425 | $31,361 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College NY · Public · 47 graduates measured | $26,322 | $36,502 | Data unavailable |
| Rose State College OK · Public · 21 graduates measured | $25,221 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Community College of Rhode Island RI · Public · 17 graduates measured | $25,196 | $33,659 | Data unavailable |
| Delta College MI · Public · 18 graduates measured | $25,153 | $25,251 | Data unavailable |
| Connecticut State Community College CT · Public · 36 graduates measured | $21,577 | $34,728 | Data unavailable |
| El Paso Community College TX · Public · 17 graduates measured | $19,187 | $28,829 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College NY · Public · 41 graduates measured | $19,109 | $32,956 | Data unavailable |
| Nassau Community College NY · Public · 25 graduates measured | $14,313 | $28,086 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart William Smith Colleges NY · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $51,155 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Southern Methodist University TX · Private, nonprofit · 27 graduates measured | $50,693 | Data unavailable | $19,500 |
| Tufts University MA · Private, nonprofit · 38 graduates measured | $43,515 | $41,365 | $18,500 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh WI · Public · 28 graduates measured | $43,233 | $50,189 | $23,113 |
| Augustana University SD · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $42,568 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Rhode Island RI · Public · 21 graduates measured | $42,522 | $44,272 | $16,400 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University VA · Public · 56 graduates measured | $42,499 | $58,652 | $22,000 |
| Sam Houston State University TX · Public · 33 graduates measured | $42,085 | $39,565 | $31,000 |
| Utah State University UT · Public · 79 graduates measured | $41,442 | $48,180 | $19,023 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) MA · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $41,191 | $38,389 | Data unavailable |
| University of Georgia GA · Public · 143 graduates measured | $41,153 | $53,300 | $18,500 |
| University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public · 40 graduates measured | $40,961 | $51,254 | $22,858 |
| Barnard College NY · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $40,947 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Vassar College NY · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $40,754 | $63,418 | Data unavailable |
| Montana State University MT · Public · 53 graduates measured | $40,481 | $46,741 | $22,712 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Nebraska at Kearney NE · Public · 29 graduates measured | $57,228 | $59,873 | Data unavailable |
| Lesley University MA · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $57,111 | $73,492 | Data unavailable |
| Eastern Illinois University IL · Public · 49 graduates measured | $55,988 | $58,301 | Data unavailable |
| Bard College NY · Private, nonprofit · 23 graduates measured | $53,856 | $63,491 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY City College NY · Public · 18 graduates measured | $53,469 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| School of Visual Arts NY · Private, for-profit · 25 graduates measured | $53,272 | $46,609 | Data unavailable |
| New York University NY · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $51,662 | $61,359 | Data unavailable |
| Lindenwood University MO · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $51,081 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Azusa Pacific University CA · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $47,273 | $64,552 | Data unavailable |
| University of California-Davis CA · Public · 18 graduates measured | $45,609 | $44,735 | Data unavailable |
| Norwich University VT · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $44,913 | $46,153 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY Hunter College NY · Public · 71 graduates measured | $44,809 | $48,258 | Data unavailable |
| Savannah College of Art and Design GA · Private, nonprofit · 52 graduates measured | $44,224 | $40,129 | Data unavailable |
| Pennsylvania Western University PA · Public · 16 graduates measured | $44,135 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The New School NY · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $43,995 | $51,394 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Fine and Studio Arts
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $78,620 | +2.2% | Master's degree |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $72,040 | -0.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Archivists | $64,550 | +3.4% | Master's degree |
| Curators | $63,420 | +4.9% | Master's degree |
| Museum technicians and conservators | $51,440 | +3.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Art directors | $114,850 | +4.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Craft artists | $46,080 | +2.0% | No formal educational credential |
| Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators | $55,490 | -2.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Special effects artists and animators | $102,030 | -0.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Artists and related workers, all other | $71,240 | +2.0% | No formal educational credential |
| Photographers | $44,660 | -0.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers | $52,540 | -3.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (13)
- 50.0701 Art/Art Studies, General
- 50.0702 Fine/Studio Arts, General
- 50.0703 Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- 50.0705 Drawing
- 50.0706 Intermedia/Multimedia
- 50.0708 Painting
- 50.0709 Sculpture
- 50.0710 Printmaking
- 50.0711 Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
- 50.0712 Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts
- 50.0713 Jewelry Arts
- 50.0714 Metal Arts
- 50.0799 Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other