HUMANITIES
+1.8%Liberal Arts
A broad foundation across writing, history, social science, and the arts — a flexible entry point into graduate school, business, or public service.
HUMANITIES
Visual & Performing Arts
Salary data, career paths, top colleges, and every specialization, all sourced from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About Visual & Performing Arts
Music, theater, visual art, film, and design — where professional craft meets cultural impact, and industry connections matter as much as talent. Graduates earn a national median of $41,367 four years after completing their degree, per College Scorecard data. The field is offered at 2,221 colleges and universities across the United States. Approximately 149,776 students complete degrees in this area each year.
- Median Earnings · 1yr
- $25,269
- Median Earnings · 4yr
- $41,367
- Colleges Offering
- 2,221
- Graduates / Year
- 149,776
- Specializations
- 11
- Avg Net Price / yr
- $30,773
Is a Visual & Performing Arts Degree Right for You?
$41,367
Median earnings · 4yr
+4.2%
10yr job growth
11
Specializations
Is the Investment Worth It?
Breaks even in
~10.8
yrs
vs $30K/yr baseline wage
At median 4-year earnings of $41,367 and an estimated $123,092 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 10.8 years. Compare your specific program carefully.
ROI varies significantly by specialization and institution. A top program in a high-demand specialization can return many multiples of its cost. A lower-tier program in a saturated field may take a decade to break even. Use the Specializations and Best Colleges sections above to compare your specific options before deciding.
How Much Do Visual & Performing Arts Majors Earn?
Visual & Performing Arts graduates start at a median $25,269 one year out and reach $41,367 four years later. Both figures are national medians from College Scorecard, measured across all 2,221 US institutions offering programs in this field.
$25,269
1 Year After Graduation
Median at the institutional level. Entry-level salaries; reflects career start, not peak earnings.
$41,367
4-Year National Median
Enrollment-weighted national median across all institutions. Most graduates have 2-3 years of career experience at this point.
$43,222
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size. Closer to what a typical school's graduates earn.
Earnings Range Across Specializations
Not all Visual & Performing Arts specializations pay the same. The most lucrative programs pay $51,490/yr nationally, while the lowest-earning specializations average $38,992/yr. See the Specializations section below for a program-by-program breakdown.
$38,992
Lowest
$41,367
Median
$51,490
Highest
What Can You Do With a Visual & Performing Arts Degree?
Career Paths for Visual & Performing Arts Graduates
Visual & Performing Arts connects to 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, spanning entry-level and senior roles. Art Director leads in median earnings at $114,850/yr. Each row includes national wages, employment levels, and 10-year growth projections.
Art Director
Bachelor's degree
$114,850
↗ +4.2% growth
Web and Digital Interface Designers
Bachelor's degree
$104,000
↗ +7.0% growth
Multimedia Artist & Animator
Bachelor's degree
$102,030
↗ +1.6% growth
Architecture Teachers
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,870
↗ +2.0% growth
Producer & Director
Bachelor's degree
$90,360
↗ +4.9% growth
Commercial & Industrial Designer
Bachelor's degree
$83,910
↗ +3.2% growth
Agents & Business Managers
Bachelor's degree
$82,890
↗ +8.7% growth
Fashion Designer
Bachelor's degree
$80,960
↗ +2.0% growth
Visual & Performing Arts Specializations
Visual & Performing Arts spans 10 specializations with relatively consistent earnings, from $38,992 to $51,490 at the four-year mark, per College Scorecard. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data.
Specialization
Colleges
Grads/yr
Earnings · 4yr
Best Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts
The 20 colleges below are ranked by Visual & Performing Arts graduate volume, how many students completed this degree in the last reporting year. All data points shown (acceptance rate, net price, earnings, grad rate) come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.
1
New York University
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.2%
Net price/yr
$37,050
Earnings 10yr
$82,509
Grad rate
76%
2
Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, GA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
83%
Net price/yr
$49,430
Earnings 10yr
$45,954
Grad rate
67%
3
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NY · Public
Acceptance
60.2%
Net price/yr
$19,095
Earnings 10yr
$62,696
Grad rate
75%
4
The New School
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
63.5%
Net price/yr
$58,741
Earnings 10yr
$52,901
Grad rate
65%
5
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
43.5%
Net price/yr
$49,465
Earnings 10yr
$33,647
Grad rate
54%
6
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · Public
Acceptance
40.1%
Net price/yr
$10,411
Earnings 10yr
$58,308
Grad rate
55%
7
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit
Acceptance
9.8%
Net price/yr
$32,740
Earnings 10yr
$92,498
Grad rate
88%
8
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
Acceptance
46.3%
Net price/yr
$10,440
Earnings 10yr
$64,403
Grad rate
78%
9
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH · Nonprofit
Acceptance
99.5%
Net price/yr
$36,708
Earnings 10yr
$50,318
Grad rate
30%
10
Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
89.5%
Net price/yr
$26,598
Earnings 10yr
$42,195
Grad rate
55%
11
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ · Public
Acceptance
89.9%
Net price/yr
$14,967
Earnings 10yr
$62,668
Grad rate
59%
12
Pratt Institute-Main
Brooklyn, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
73.3%
Net price/yr
$52,659
Earnings 10yr
$54,295
Grad rate
63%
13
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
77.5%
Net price/yr
$49,790
Earnings 10yr
$40,151
Grad rate
65%
14
University of North Texas
Denton, TX · Public
Acceptance
72.2%
Net price/yr
$15,649
Earnings 10yr
$57,010
Grad rate
57%
15
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN · Public
Acceptance
78.2%
Net price/yr
$16,264
Earnings 10yr
$63,742
Grad rate
65%
16
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
New York, NY · Nonprofit
Acceptance
24.5%
Net price/yr
$41,416
Earnings 10yr
$26,975
Grad rate
68%
17
Belmont University
Nashville, TN · Nonprofit
Acceptance
95.3%
Net price/yr
$33,147
Earnings 10yr
$55,930
Grad rate
69%
18
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
Acceptance
90.5%
Net price/yr
$6,555
Earnings 10yr
$62,951
Grad rate
73%
19
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Nonprofit
Acceptance
75.9%
Net price/yr
$30,902
Earnings 10yr
$68,751
Grad rate
71%
20
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · Public
Acceptance
92.6%
Net price/yr
$23,433
Earnings 10yr
$58,128
Grad rate
66%
Ranked by number of Visual & Performing Arts graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →
How Visual & Performing Arts Compares to Similar Majors
Major
$30k
$40k
$50k
$60k
$70k
$80k
$90k
$100k
Plan Your Path
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Visual & Performing Arts degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if a Visual & Performing Arts degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Visual & Performing Arts Degree: Pros & Cons
Visual & Performing Arts carries financial trade-offs that prospective students should weigh carefully before committing. The 3 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
- Growing field Top career paths show up to +8.7% projected 10-year growth per BLS, including Agents & Business Managers.
- Wide availability Offered at 2,221 colleges nationwide, including community colleges and online programs.
- Strong salary growth Median salary grows from $25,269 at graduation to $41,367 four years later, indicating solid career momentum.
CONS
- Below-average earnings Four-year median of $41,367 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders, limiting near-term financial returns.
- Highly competitive job market Approximately 149,776 students graduate in this field each year, one of the highest volumes among all majors.
- Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 10.8 years. Compare program costs carefully.
Visual & Performing Arts Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Visual & Performing Arts graduates earn?
Visual & Performing Arts graduates earn a national median of $41,367 four years after completing their degree, per College Scorecard data. Earnings vary significantly by specialization, institution, and region. Use the specializations table on this page to compare programs.
What is the starting salary for a Visual & Performing Arts degree?
The median earnings one year after graduation for Visual & Performing Arts degree holders is $25,269 at the institutional level, per College Scorecard. Starting salaries vary by employer, location, and specific specialization within the field.
What jobs can you get with a Visual & Performing Arts degree?
Visual & Performing Arts degree holders work in a range of careers. Art Director is one of the top roles by median wage ($114,850/yr nationally per BLS data). See the Career Paths section on this page for a full breakdown of related occupations, employment levels, and 10-year growth projections.
How many colleges offer Visual & Performing Arts?
2,221 colleges and universities in the United States offer programs in Visual & Performing Arts, per IPEDS data. Options range from community colleges offering associate degrees to research universities with doctoral programs. The Best Colleges section on this page ranks the top institutions by graduation volume.
Is a Visual & Performing Arts degree worth it?
At a median 4-year earnings of $41,367 and an average net price of roughly $30,773/yr across institutions offering this major, a Visual & Performing Arts degree can deliver strong returns, particularly in high-earning specializations. The ROI depends heavily on which institution and specialization you choose.
How long does it take to earn a Visual & Performing Arts degree?
A bachelor's degree in Visual & Performing Arts typically takes four years of full-time study. Community colleges offer associate programs in two years. Online and part-time options can adjust these timelines based on your schedule and transfer credits.
What skills do employers look for in Visual & Performing Arts graduates?
Employers hiring Visual & Performing Arts graduates consistently prioritize writing, critical analysis, research, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles.
What is the 10-year job outlook for Visual & Performing Arts graduates?
Based on BLS projections, the job outlook for Visual & Performing Arts graduates is moderate, with an average of +4.2% projected growth across related occupations. Agents & Business Managers is among the strongest-growth roles at +8.7%. Demand will vary by specialization, employer sector, and geographic region.
Related Findings
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The Best Major Out-Earns the Worst by 2.5 to 1
The top-paying major returns $93,843 a decade out. The bottom returns $36,949. The gap is 2.5x, and the two ends share almost nothing in common.
- Major earnings
- Engineering tech
- Library science
- Earnings gap
- Field of study
-
The Lowest-Paying Degrees, and Whether They Are Worth It
The lowest-paying college program pays a median of $28,311 four years out. Only 11 of 314 programs land below the high-school benchmark. Here is the floor.
- Lowest-paying degrees
- Program earnings
- Worth it
- Net price
- Major choice
-
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
- Major earnings
- Highest paying majors
- Job growth
- STEM
- Field of study
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