Visual and Performing Arts, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 12 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$243,074 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.
87.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−89%Modeled 10-year ROI
$48,155Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$48,155Median reported earnings · year 4
$48,338Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,500Median federal debt
16thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
12Reporting programs
10With 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
- $27,491
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,607
- Federal debt
- $5,000
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,155
- Federal debt
- $25,500
- Reporting programs
- 12
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,194
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
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$45,735National median$48,15575th percentile$51,248
10 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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of California, San Diego$64,8222University of South Florida$53,7563SUNY at Purchase College$53,1004Portland State University$51,2485Illinois State University$49,7746Columbia University in the City of New York$46,5357New York University$45,9918Clemson University$45,7359Millikin University$43,85810Berklee College of Music$37,117Observed 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 · 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 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $64,822 | $20,000 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $53,756 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | SUNY at Purchase CollegeBachelor's Degree | Purchase, NY | $53,100 | $24,363 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $51,248 | Not available | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $49,774 | $22,000 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $46,535 | $26,971 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $45,991 | $25,000 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $45,735 | $26,972 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Millikin UniversityBachelor's Degree | Decatur, IL | $43,858 | $26,000 | -104% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Berklee College of MusicBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $37,117 | $27,000 | -121% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Grambling State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grambling, LA | Not available | $43,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $19,809 |
| 12 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | Not available | $24,526 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $41,555 |
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.