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 schools below stand out for the salaries their fine and studio arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find where fine and studio arts graduates earn the most.
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Below are the schools whose fine and studio arts graduates go on to earn the most.
Wake Forest University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools in North Carolina. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Wake Forest University typically earn about $61,144 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #2 place for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of about $42,892 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $42,572.
A rank of #4 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $30,577.
A rank of #5 makes East Carolina University one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. East Carolina University is a public school located in the city of Greenville. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of about $41,407 a year early in their careers.
Western Carolina University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Western Carolina University is a public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of about $35,357 a year early in their careers.
Guilford College earned the #7 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, Guilford College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Guilford College make a median of around $28,107 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville earned the #8 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville typically earn about $32,441 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro make a median of around $39,499 per year.
Appalachian State University landed the #10 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Appalachian State University make a median of around $34,209 per year.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #11 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a public school located in the city of Wilmington. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington typically earn about $34,919 annually.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #12 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from North Carolina A And T State University make a median of around $32,619 per year.
North Carolina Central University came in at #13 for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. North Carolina Central University is a public school located in the city of Durham. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of about $21,980 a year early in their careers.
Fayetteville State University earned the #14 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Fayetteville State University is a public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $16,454.
This list is compiled 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 · 14 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.