Fine and Studio Arts: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 6 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$41,627 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.
$41,627Median year-4 earnings
$23,967Average institution net-price context
$11,594Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$41,627Median reported earnings · year 4
$38,026Average reported earnings · year 5
$11,594Median federal debt
32thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
6Reporting programs
5With 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.
CURRENT VIEW
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$31,707National median$41,62775th percentile$41,627
5 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.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
5 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$49,440Federal debt$11,187Annual net price$13,3362Gemological Institute of America-CarlsbadCarlsbad, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$41,627Federal debt$8,233Annual net price$30,0553Gemological Institute of America-New YorkNew York, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$41,627Federal debt$8,233Annual net price$18,9774Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$31,707Federal debt$26,500Annual net price$42,4545University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$27,437Annual net price$15,014
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Scottsdale Community College$49,4402Gemological Institute of America-Carlsbad$41,6273Gemological Institute of America-New York$41,6274Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts$31,7075University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeNot availableObserved 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. 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 | Scottsdale Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Scottsdale, AZ | $49,440 | $11,187 | Baseline needed | $13,336 |
| 2 | Gemological Institute of America-CarlsbadUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Carlsbad, CA | $41,627 | $8,233 | Baseline needed | $30,055 |
| 3 | Gemological Institute of America-New YorkUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New York, NY | $41,627 | $8,233 | Baseline needed | $18,977 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Philadelphia, PA | $31,707 | $26,500 | Baseline needed | $42,454 |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Milwaukee, WI | Not available | $27,437 | Baseline needed | $15,014 |
| 6 | Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic ArtUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $21,323 | $12,000 | Baseline needed | Not available |
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.