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. The highest-paying schools turn a fine and studio arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 98 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.
For graduate earnings in fine and studio arts, no school beat Nassau Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Nassau Community College is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Nassau Community College typically earn about $45,911 annually.
Lafayette College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Lafayette College typically earn about $59,301 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #3 place for fine and studio arts. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,470.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of about $55,731 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Hudson Valley Community College earned it the #5 place for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College typically earn about $36,040 annually.
Manhattanville College placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Manhattanville College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Purchase. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Manhattanville College earn a median of about $48,419 a year early in their careers.
Cornell University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $73,168.
St Lawrence University landed the #8 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from St Lawrence University typically earn about $47,351 annually.
Mcdaniel College earned the #9 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Mcdaniel College typically earn about $45,857 annually.
Marist College came in at #10 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Marist College make a median of around $63,338 per year.
Morgan State University earned the #11 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Morgan State University typically earn about $43,015 annually.
Skidmore College landed the #12 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Skidmore College typically earn about $61,804 annually.
Messiah College came in at #13 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Messiah College typically earn about $42,792 annually.
Fordham University landed the #14 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $52,420 a year early in their careers.
The College Of New Jersey came in at #15 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,001.
University Of Maryland College Park placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park typically earn about $56,643 annually.
George Washington University landed the #17 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $47,467 annually.
Monmouth University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Set in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Monmouth University make a median of around $58,008 per year.
Barnard College earned the #19 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Barnard College earn a median of about $39,947 a year early in their careers.
Suny Empire State College landed the #20 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Suny Empire State College typically earn about $39,946 annually.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,030.
Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny earned the #22 position 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. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,733.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College came in at #23 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Sparkill, Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a private not-for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Saint Thomas Aquinas College earn a median of about $38,765 a year early in their careers.
County College Of Morris landed the #24 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of about $33,881 a year early in their careers.
Vassar College landed the #25 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Vassar College make a median of around $66,304 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid fine and studio arts ranking:
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 · 98 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.