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. The highest-paying schools turn a fine and studio arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 9 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.
Leading the list is University Of Kentucky, our #1 for fine and studio arts graduate salaries in Kentucky. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of about $39,370 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for fine and studio arts. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Northern Kentucky University typically earn about $37,053 annually.
University Of Louisville produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,725.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at Western Kentucky University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,236.
Eastern Kentucky University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in fine and studio arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,404.
Murray State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Murray State University is a public school located in the town of Murray. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Murray State University typically earn about $37,409 annually.
Morehead State University came in at #7 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Morehead State University make a median of around $29,739 per year.
Berea College came in at #8 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Berea College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Berea College earn a median of about $20,036 a year early in their careers.
Spalding University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $14,940.
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 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.