by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine And Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where fine and studio arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose fine and studio arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Vanderbilt University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid fine and studio arts graduates in the United States. Vanderbilt University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,742.
A rank of #2 makes Wellesley College one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Wellesley College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,391.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at Wake Forest University, which ranked #3. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Wake Forest University typically earn about $61,144 annually.
Lafayette College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of about $59,301 a year early in their careers.
Salve Regina University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Newport. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Salve Regina University earn a median of about $57,953 a year early in their careers.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $57,470 a year early in their careers.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #7 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $87,876 a year early in their careers.
San Jose State University earned the #8 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,424.
University Of Southern California came in at #9 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $61,391 annually.
Oral Roberts University earned the #10 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Oral Roberts University make a median of around $53,632 per year.
University Of Redlands placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. University Of Redlands is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from University Of Redlands make a median of around $53,394 per year.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Columbia University In The City Of New York make a median of around $55,731 per year.
Azusa Pacific University earned the #13 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located 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 $51,399.
University Of Miami earned the #14 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from University Of Miami make a median of around $51,141 per year.
Winona State University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Winona State University is a public school located in the town of Winona. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,137.
Northeastern University came in at #16 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Northeastern University typically earn about $49,358 annually.
Mills College placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Mills College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Oakland. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Mills College make a median of around $48,986 per year.
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #18 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,583.
Luther College earned the #19 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Luther College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Luther College typically earn about $48,575 annually.
Manhattanville College earned the #20 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Manhattanville College typically earn about $48,419 annually.
Cornell University landed the #21 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Cornell University typically earn about $73,168 annually.
Occidental College landed the #22 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Occidental College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Occidental College make a median of around $47,894 per year.
Southern Methodist University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of about $62,394 a year early in their careers.
St Lawrence University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Set in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of St Lawrence University earn a median of about $47,351 a year early in their careers.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #25 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $63,880.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid fine and studio arts ranking:
The following schools rounded out the strongest fine and studio arts earnings:
A few more high-earning fine and studio arts schools worth a look:
Explore the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries fine and studio arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 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.