WhatGradsMake
Master's+13% vs national median180 grads tracked

Visual and Performing Arts at Purdue University

Ranked 25th of 142 master's programs in Visual and Performing Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,591
middle 50%: $27,536 – $63,346
Median · 5 years out
$63,105
middle 50%: $44,206 – $80,008
Median · 10 years out
$72,585
middle 50%: $48,639 – $94,689

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

Graduates of Purdue University's master's program in Visual and Performing Arts earn a median $41,591 one year after graduating, rising to $72,585 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 13% above the national median of $55,817 for this field, ranking 25th of 142 reporting programs.

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
6.8 yrs
≈ $7,888 total interest

Same major at other universities

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
Georgia Southern University
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$62,590 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota Duluth
$62,158 · 5 yrs out
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
$61,926 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine
$61,827 · 5 yrs out
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
$61,827 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Purdue University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$219,424 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$162,085 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$160,199 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,081 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$151,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$148,110 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$141,828 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$135,976 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$126,565 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$122,270 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Doctorate)
$122,253 · 5 yrs out

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