by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine And Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their fine and studio arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose fine and studio arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is University Of Puget Sound, our #1 for fine and studio arts graduate salaries in Washington. University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,354.
Strong graduate earnings at Seattle Pacific University earned it the #2 place for fine and studio arts. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,938.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place for fine and studio arts. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,831.
A rank of #4 makes Eastern Washington University one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Eastern Washington University make a median of around $30,879 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at Western Washington University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Western Washington University make a median of around $41,889 per year.
Central Washington University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Central Washington University is a public school located in the town of Ellensburg. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,916.
Pacific Lutheran University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Pacific Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of about $27,811 a year early in their careers.
Cornish College Of The Arts placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Cornish College Of The Arts is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Cornish College Of The Arts make a median of around $22,650 per year.
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 · 8 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.