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Best Schools for Fine and Studio Arts

Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn a median of $25,619 within two years of graduation, ranking #269 out of 292 tracked majors — 28% below the median across all fields. There are 504 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 22,297 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Cornell University graduates earn $45,696 while University of North Georgia graduates earn $9,000 — a $36,696 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Fine and Studio Arts graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

504
Schools
$25,619
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#269
of 292 Majors
22,297
Graduates

Public vs Private: Fine and Studio Arts

Public (316 schools)
$25,592
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (171 schools)
$25,961
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $369 more in early earnings on average for Fine and Studio Arts graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

Fine and Studio Arts by State

New York
43 schools
$25,601
California
42 schools
$26,447
Texas
30 schools
$26,684
Pennsylvania
26 schools
$27,784
Massachusetts
23 schools
$27,340
Ohio
21 schools
$23,641
Illinois
19 schools
$26,508
New Jersey
15 schools
$28,221

Top Fine and Studio Arts Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
C

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$45,696
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.2%
#2
C

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public

$45,082
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,354
Grads: 58
Acceptance: 29.8%
#3
W

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private

$44,170
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 21.6%
#4
T

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.1%
#5
V

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 6.3%
#6
B

Barnard College

New York, NY · Private

$41,789
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.0%
#7
M

Marist University

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$40,697
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,920
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 64.7%
#8
U

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

$40,312
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,937
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 16.9%
#9
F

Fordham University

Bronx, NY · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,927
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 56.3%
#10
W

Williams College

Williamstown, MA · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,993
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 10.0%
#11
A

Avila University

Kansas City, MO · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 59.5%
#12
U

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,689
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 5.9%
#13
U

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$37,208
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,913
Grads: 67
Acceptance: 10.0%
#14
P

Pace University

New York, NY · Private

$37,208
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 77.1%
#15
T

The College of New Jersey

Ewing, NJ · Public

$36,938
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,767
Grads: 82
Acceptance: 62.1%
#16
L

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA · Private

$36,848
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,503
Grads: 46
Acceptance: 40.3%
#17
G

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA · Private

$36,668
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 98.4%
#18
W

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA · Private

$36,312
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,772
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 13.9%
#19
B

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

$36,141
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 35.3%
#20
U

University of Houston-Clear Lake

Houston, TX · Public

$36,134
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,769
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 75.3%
#21
U

University of Maryland-College Park

College Park, MD · Public

$36,048
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,028
Grads: 73
Acceptance: 44.8%
#22
H

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY · Private

$35,864
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.6%
#23
V

Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Private

$35,600
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,522
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 17.7%
#24
T

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX · Public

$35,416
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,342
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 94.2%
#25
J

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

$35,416
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,065
Grads: 92
Acceptance: 76.3%
#26
N

Northeastern University Oakland

Oakland, CA · Private

$35,330
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 16.5%
#27
B

Bradley University

Peoria, IL · Private

$35,330
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.7%
#28
N

Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private

$35,330
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 5.7%
#29
S

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$35,276
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,698
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 61.2%
#30
W

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$35,274
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.2%
#31
M

Moravian University

Bethlehem, PA · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,742
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 54.0%
#32
U

University of Wyoming

Laramie, WY · Public

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,487
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 97.4%
#33
U

University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public

$34,847
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,051
Grads: 103
Acceptance: 69.5%
#34
S

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT · Public

$34,704
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,763
Grads: 50
Acceptance: 81.1%
#35
S

Skidmore College

Saratoga Springs, NY · Private

$34,704
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,302
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 22.9%
#36
U

University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Platteville, WI · Public

$34,704
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 87.3%
#37
U

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Kearney, NE · Public

$34,298
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,045
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 85.8%
#38
W

Washburn University

Topeka, KS ·

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $24,910
Grads: 18
Acceptance: N/A
#39
T

Towson University

Towson, MD · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,784
Grads: 191
Acceptance: 82.8%
#40
U

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,492
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 76.5%
#41
R

Rhodes College

Memphis, TN · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 49.7%
#42
U

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public

$33,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,615
Grads: 67
Acceptance: 87.2%
#43
R

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,945
Grads: 82
Acceptance: 77.8%
#44
O

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, OK · Private

$33,281
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 98.6%
#45
U

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Whitewater, WI · Public

$33,192
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,341
Grads: 63
Acceptance: 82.8%
#46
U

University of Missouri-St Louis

Saint Louis, MO · Public

$33,007
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,777
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 57.2%
#47
U

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$32,996
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,738
Grads: 119
Acceptance: 17.9%
#48
C

Connecticut College

New London, CT · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 38.3%
#49
S

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,825
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 95.0%
#50
A

Allegheny College

Meadville, PA · Private

$32,925
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 58.5%

Showing top 50 of 504 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Anthropology $26,071 Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology $25,939 Religion/Religious Studies $25,898 Communication Disorders Sciences and Services $25,851 Natural Resources and Conservation, Other $25,851 Film/Video and Photographic Arts $25,451

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Fine and Studio Arts?
Cornell University ranks #1 for Fine and Studio Arts with median graduate earnings of $45,696 within two years. There are 504 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn?
Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn an average of $25,619 within two years of graduation. This is 28% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $9,000 to $45,696 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Fine and Studio Arts program?
The average acceptance rate across Fine and Studio Arts programs is 71.1%. The most selective program is at Columbia University in the City of New York with a 4.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Fine and Studio Arts?
Private Fine and Studio Arts programs average $25,961 in early earnings vs $25,592 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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