by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine And Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 67 schools on the early-career earnings of their fine and studio arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
Where you study fine and studio arts affects what graduates go on to earn. To help, we created our Highest Paid Fine And Studio Arts Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its fine and studio arts graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Fine And Studio Arts Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools send fine and studio arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in fine and studio arts, no school beat University Of California Los Angeles this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from University Of California Los Angeles make a median of around $62,398 per year.
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,135.
California State University Fullerton came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton typically earn about $59,860 annually.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public school located in the town of Kearney. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of about $63,624 a year early in their careers.
University Of Colorado Boulder produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder typically earn about $58,236 annually.
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School Of Visual Arts came in at #6 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, School Of Visual Arts is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,844.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Eastern Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Charleston. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,438.
George Washington University came in at #8 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of George Washington University earn a median of about $55,311 a year early in their careers.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earned the #9 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design make a median of around $50,875 per year.
Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny came in at #10 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny is a private for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny typically earn about $55,733 annually.
Azusa Pacific University earned the #11 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,560.
The New School ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. The New School is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from The New School make a median of around $69,584 per year.
Academy Of Art University earned the #13 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Academy Of Art University typically earn about $40,069 annually.
California State University Long Beach placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,947.
University Of Oregon earned the #15 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of about $45,438 a year early in their careers.
Lesley University landed the #16 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,000.
Savannah College Of Art And Design placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of about $51,744 a year early in their careers.
New York University earned the #18 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from New York University typically earn about $49,864 annually.
University Of Denver landed the #19 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of about $44,922 a year early in their careers.
Southern New Hampshire University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Southern New Hampshire University typically earn about $44,794 annually.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Washington University In St Louis make a median of around $44,417 per year.
Georgia State University earned the #22 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Georgia State University typically earn about $42,842 annually.
University Of California Davis placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,782.
Pratt Institute Main ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of about $57,099 a year early in their careers.
Tufts University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Tufts University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Tufts University earn a median of about $52,690 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning fine and studio arts graduates:
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This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their fine and studio arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 67 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.