Visual and Performing Arts, General: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 81 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$299,247 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−115%Modeled 10-year ROI
$41,156Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$41,156Median reported earnings · year 4
$40,787Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,000Median federal debt
5thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
81Reporting programs
72With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$37,012National median$41,15675th percentile$46,198
72 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Fordham University$65,8482Champlain College$57,8833Texas A&M University-College Station$57,0024George Mason University$54,7035The University of Texas at Austin$53,8296University of Central Florida$52,9227University of Missouri-Columbia$50,2058Lesley University$49,1759Arizona State University Campus Immersion$48,58910Arizona State University Digital Immersion$48,589Observed 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 · 2 crosswalk linksArtists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 27-1019 · 2 crosswalk linksPhotographersSOC 27-4021 · 2 crosswalk linksArt DirectorsSOC 27-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksCraft ArtistsSOC 27-1012 · 1 crosswalk linksFine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSOC 27-1013 · 1 crosswalk linksGraphic DesignersSOC 27-1024 · 1 crosswalk linksSpecial Effects Artists and AnimatorsSOC 27-1014 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $65,848 | $27,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Champlain CollegeBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $57,883 | $27,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $57,002 | $22,420 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $54,703 | $25,620 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $53,829 | $21,500 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $52,922 | $24,250 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $50,205 | $21,719 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Lesley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $49,175 | $26,000 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $48,589 | $22,625 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $48,589 | $22,625 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 11 | University of Advancing TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $48,112 | $29,750 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | California State University, San MarcosBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, CA | $48,043 | $18,750 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterBachelor's Degree | Whitewater, WI | $47,819 | $24,500 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $47,546 | $17,983 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Florida-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $47,546 | $17,983 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | SUNY OneontaBachelor's Degree | Oneonta, NY | $47,321 | $24,250 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Otis College of Art and DesignBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $47,220 | $27,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $46,944 | $27,000 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of ToledoBachelor's Degree | Toledo, OH | $46,198 | $26,166 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $45,915 | $15,000 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Rasmussen University-MinnesotaBachelor's Degree | St. Cloud, MN | $45,899 | Not available | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AltoonaBachelor's Degree | Altoona, PA | $45,170 | $24,638 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $45,170 | $24,638 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonBachelor's Degree | Abington, PA | $45,170 | $24,638 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $45,170 | $24,638 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $44,091 | $16,750 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Longwood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Farmville, VA | $44,066 | $27,250 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Empire State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saratoga Springs, NY | $43,473 | Not available | -107% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Academy of Art UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $43,084 | $31,000 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Ramapo College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Mahwah, NJ | $43,063 | $25,926 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Southern Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ashland, OR | $43,044 | $24,500 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Christopher Newport UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newport News, VA | $42,907 | $26,000 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $42,731 | $26,500 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $42,219 | $26,991 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | University of Mary WashingtonBachelor's Degree | Fredericksburg, VA | $41,509 | $26,000 | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bloomfield, NJ | $41,156 | Not available | -113% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Montclair State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Montclair, NJ | $41,156 | Not available | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | University of Wisconsin-StoutBachelor's Degree | Menomonie, WI | $41,129 | $29,350 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | State University of New York at New PaltzBachelor's Degree | New Paltz, NY | $41,097 | $21,324 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $40,538 | $23,522 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of North Carolina AshevilleBachelor's Degree | Asheville, NC | $40,444 | $23,250 | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $40,199 | $25,000 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Bennington CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bennington, VT | $39,958 | $27,000 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | SUNY at Purchase CollegeBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $39,791 | $27,000 | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $39,403 | Not available | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Worcester State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $39,037 | Not available | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $38,939 | $27,000 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | University of Massachusetts-DartmouthBachelor's Degree | North Dartmouth, MA | $38,676 | $27,000 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Southern MississippiBachelor's Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $38,599 | Not available | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Rogers State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Claremore, OK | $37,996 | Not available | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | The University of Tennessee-MartinBachelor's Degree | Martin, TN | $37,930 | $22,625 | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $37,825 | $21,196 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | University of Houston-DowntownBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $37,668 | Not available | -133% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University of Colorado Colorado SpringsBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $37,628 | $28,750 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Wichita State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita, KS | $37,012 | $24,551 | -134% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Full Sail UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $36,870 | $27,000 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $35,819 | Not available | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $35,819 | Not available | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Marshall UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntington, WV | $35,126 | $28,500 | -147% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Stetson UniversityBachelor's Degree | DeLand, FL | $35,045 | $27,000 | -139% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | New York Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $34,055 | Not available | -141% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | SUNY College at PotsdamBachelor's Degree | Potsdam, NY | $33,743 | $27,000 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cape Girardeau, MO | $33,293 | $26,750 | -148% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Jackson State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jackson, MS | $33,213 | $31,000 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Savannah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $33,175 | $46,831 | -156% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Salem State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salem, MA | $32,484 | $27,000 | -151% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Mississippi University for WomenBachelor's Degree | Columbus, MS | $29,090 | Not available | -169% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $27,875 | $28,000 | -179% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto RicoBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $23,558 | Not available | -206% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Azusa Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Azusa, CA | Not available | $23,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,212 |
| 71 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | Not available | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $41,431 |
| 72 | Albany State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Albany, GA | Not available | $30,660 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,898 |
| 73 | University of Saint Francis-Fort WayneBachelor's Degree | Fort Wayne, IN | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,196 |
| 74 | College of the Holy CrossBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | Not available | $22,375 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $38,782 |
| 75 | Delta State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, MS | Not available | $23,375 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $13,540 |
| 76 | Siena UniversityBachelor's Degree | Loudonville, NY | Not available | $26,924 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $33,733 |
| 77 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $38,509 |
| 78 | East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | East Stroudsburg, PA | Not available | $27,400 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,134 |
| 79 | Marymount California UniversityBachelor's Degree | , | $36,765 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 80 | Hussian College-PhiladelphiaBachelor's Degree | , | $33,192 | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 81 | Hussian College-Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | , | $33,192 | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | 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.