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. 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 52 schools on the early-career earnings of their fine and studio arts graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send fine and studio arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Nassau Community College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools in New York. Nassau Community College is a public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,911.
Columbia University In The City Of New York produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York typically earn about $55,731 annually.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Hudson Valley Community College is a public school located in the city of Troy. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of about $36,040 a year early in their careers.
Manhattanville College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Manhattanville College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Purchase. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,419.
Strong graduate earnings at Cornell University earned it the #5 place for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell 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 $73,168.
St Lawrence University landed the #6 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from St Lawrence University make a median of around $47,351 per year.
Marist College placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Marist College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Marist College make a median of around $63,338 per year.
Skidmore College earned the #8 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Skidmore College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Skidmore College make a median of around $61,804 per year.
Fordham University earned the #9 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Fordham University typically earn about $52,420 annually.
Barnard College earned the #10 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. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $39,947.
Suny Empire State College placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Suny Empire State College make a median of around $39,946 per year.
Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny earned the #12 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of New York, Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny is a private for-profit institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Sothebys Institute Of Art Ny earn a median of about $55,733 a year early in their careers.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College earned the #13 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set 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.
Vassar College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Located 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.
New York University earned the #15 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. New York University is a private not-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 $55,953.
Hofstra University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Hofstra University make a median of around $60,092 per year.
Fashion Institute Of Technology ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of about $38,987 a year early in their careers.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #18 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Suny At Binghamton make a median of around $52,455 per year.
Corning Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Set in the rural area of Corning, Corning Community College is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Corning Community College earn a median of about $32,565 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Lehman College landed the #20 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of about $46,586 a year early in their careers.
Pace University New York came in at #21 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Pace University New York make a median of around $53,298 per year.
Niagara County Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Niagara County Community College is a public school located in the rural area of Sanborn. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Niagara County Community College make a median of around $32,014 per year.
Dutchess Community College came in at #23 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Dutchess Community College earn a median of about $30,184 a year early in their careers.
Suny College At Brockport placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Suny College At Brockport is a public school located in the town of Brockport. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,419.
Stony Brook University earned the #25 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Stony Brook University is a public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Stony Brook University make a median of around $33,435 per year.
These schools also send fine and studio arts graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 52 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.