Master's+16% vs national median261 grads tracked
Visual and Performing Arts at University of Illinois Chicago
Ranked 18th of 142 master's programs in Visual and Performing Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$48,612
middle 50%: $28,836 – $66,080
Median · 5 years out
$64,812
middle 50%: $42,971 – $84,610
Median · 10 years out
$85,178
middle 50%: $57,248 – $107,388
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Visual and Performing Arts (master's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Visual and performing arts master's graduates start at $49k. Median pay reaches $85k by year 10.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,094 total interest
Same major at other universities
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
$69,418 · 5 yrs out
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$69,335 · 5 yrs out
George Mason University
$67,829 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$65,805 · 5 yrs out
University of Montana (The)
$64,845 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$64,798 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Graduate School & University Center
$64,452 · 5 yrs out
University of Utah
$64,402 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at New Paltz
$63,985 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at El Paso
$63,769 · 5 yrs out
Clemson University
$63,411 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$63,105 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Illinois Chicago
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$203,383 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$155,322 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$152,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,199 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$146,852 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$143,939 · 5 yrs out
Dentistry (Doctorate)
$135,535 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$123,770 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$117,024 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$115,930 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$113,557 · 5 yrs out