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.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 67 schools to find where fine and studio arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send fine and studio arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #1 spot for highest-paid fine and studio arts graduates in the United States. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,398.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at George Mason University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $61,135 annually.
California State University Fullerton produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #3 spot this year. California State University Fullerton is a public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,860.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Kearney typically earn about $63,624 annually.
University Of Colorado Boulder produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school located in the city of Boulder. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,236.
School Of Visual Arts came in at #6 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set 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 ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Eastern Illinois University make a median of around $59,438 per year.
George Washington University earned the #8 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,311.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #9 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn a median of about $50,875 a year early in their careers.
Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny earned the #10 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny is a private for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny make a median of around $55,733 per year.
Azusa Pacific University landed the #11 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Azusa Pacific University make a median of around $49,560 per year.
The New School earned the #12 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School 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 $69,584.
Academy Of Art University landed the #13 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Academy Of Art University is a private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Academy Of Art University typically earn about $40,069 annually.
California State University Long Beach ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. California State University Long Beach is a public school located in the city of Long Beach. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $45,947 a year early in their careers.
University Of Oregon came in at #15 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. University Of Oregon is a public school located in the city of Eugene. 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. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Lesley University make a median of around $43,000 per year.
Savannah College Of Art And Design earned the #17 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design 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 $51,744.
New York University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of New York, New York 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 $49,864.
University Of Denver ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a private not-for-profit institution. 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 placed #20 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of about $44,794 a year early in their careers.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #21 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis typically earn about $44,417 annually.
Georgia State University landed the #22 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Georgia State University is a public school located in the city of Atlanta. 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. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis typically earn about $42,782 annually.
Pratt Institute Main ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Pratt Institute Main is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main typically earn about $57,099 annually.
Tufts University earned the #25 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts 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 $52,690.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning fine and studio arts graduates:
Looking for a different degree level? Compare highest-paid Fine And Studio Arts rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.