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.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools.
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 Shepherd University, our #1 for fine and studio arts graduate salaries in West Virginia. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Shepherd University make a median of around $37,624 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in fine and studio arts will find them at West Virginia University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $41,799.
Marshall University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools. Marshall University is a public school located in the city of Huntington. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Marshall University typically earn about $31,004 annually.
This list is compiled 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 · 3 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.