Visual & Performing Arts graduates earn $41,688 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $25,771 and $59,858. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.
This page covers Visual & Performing Arts as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Visual & Performing Arts and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Visual & Performing Arts is a specialized field of study. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $41,688 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 550 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 6,785 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$25,702
Median Earnings · 4yr
$41,688
Colleges Offering
550
Graduates / Year
6,785
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,498
How Much Do Visual & Performing Arts Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Visual & Performing Arts, a typical graduate earns $41,688, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $25,771 and $59,858, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $25,702 at one year out to $41,688 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$41,688
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$41,509
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Visual & Performing Arts graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$25,77125th pct.
$41,688Median
$59,85875th pct.
Understanding the Cost vs. Return
At median 4-year earnings of $41,688 and an estimated $69,992 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 6.0 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 318 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 6,785 students who complete Visual & Performing Arts programs each year, the majority (64%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
27%64%
Bachelor's64%
Associate's27%
Master's5%
What Can You Do With a Visual & Performing Arts Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Visual & Performing Arts graduates show up in 6 different occupations, and Art Director pays the most at $114,850/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
SpeakingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingReading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities
Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.
Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
Present final layouts to clients for approval.
Manage own accounts and projects, working within budget and scheduling requirements.
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Day-to-day responsibilities
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
Active ListeningSpeakingActive LearningCritical ThinkingWriting
Day-to-day responsibilities
Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.
Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
Active LearningCritical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and techniques.
Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
High school diploma or equivalent10,700 openings/yr52K employed nationally
Active ListeningSpeakingService OrientationActive LearningJudgment and Decision Making
Day-to-day responsibilities
Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.
Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
Top Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts
Not sure where to study Visual & Performing Arts? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Visual & Performing Arts graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Visual & Performing Arts Programs
Visual & Performing Arts is not the only path through Visual & Performing Arts: 9 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
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 program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Visual & Performing Arts carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 4 strengths and 3 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $25,702 at graduation to $41,688 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 53,300 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Wide availabilityOffered at 550 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $41,688 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Declining roles in some areas4 related careers show negative 10-year employment projections. Research specific roles before committing.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($25,771) and 75th ($59,858) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Visual & Performing Arts Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Visual & Performing Arts graduates earn?
$41,688 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $25,771 and $59,858, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Visual & Performing Arts degree?
$25,702 in the first year out. That grows to $41,688 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Visual & Performing Arts degree?
Art Director is one path, and it pays a median of $114,850 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Visual & Performing Arts program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Visual & Performing Arts bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Visual & Performing Arts?
550 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Visual & Performing Arts degree worth it?
$41,688 median earnings four years out against $17,498 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What skills do employers look for in Visual & Performing Arts graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Visual & Performing Arts graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Visual & Performing Arts graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +0.1% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Art Director is among the strongest-growth roles at +4.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Visual & Performing Arts Programs
Other programs in Visual & Performing Arts. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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