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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 10 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.
University Of Missouri St Louis tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying fine and studio arts schools in Missouri. University Of Missouri St Louis is a public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,619.
A rank of #2 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis 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 $44,417.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,367.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from University Of Missouri Kansas City make a median of around $42,535 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Southeast Missouri State University earned it the #5 place for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution. Early-career fine and studio arts graduates from Southeast Missouri State University make a median of around $36,199 per year.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #6 position for fine and studio arts graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a public institution. Students who complete the fine and studio arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $36,129.
Missouri Southern State University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Missouri Southern State University is a public school located in the city of Joplin. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University typically earn about $31,724 annually.
Missouri State University Springfield placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. After graduating, fine and studio arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield typically earn about $36,495 annually.
Kansas City Art Institute placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for fine and studio arts. Kansas City Art Institute is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Kansas City Art Institute earn a median of about $35,319 a year early in their careers.
Truman State University landed the #10 spot for fine and studio arts salaries this year. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a public institution. Fine And Studio Arts graduates of Truman State University earn a median of about $43,269 a year early in their careers.
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 · 10 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.