WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+7% vs national median271 grads tracked

Visual and Performing Arts at Carleton College

Ranked 71st of 376 bachelor's programs in Visual and Performing Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$32,429
middle 50%: $22,004 – $46,606
Median · 5 years out
$52,333
middle 50%: $31,458 – $71,155
Median · 10 years out
$76,644
middle 50%: $58,205 – $112,495

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Visual and Performing Arts (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Carleton College's bachelor's program in Visual and Performing Arts earn a median $32,429 one year after graduating, rising to $76,644 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $48,719 for this field, ranking 71st of 376 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
8 yrs
≈ $9,857 total interest

Same major at other universities

Miami University
$52,766 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$52,715 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Brooklyn College
$52,650 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$52,401 · 5 yrs out
CUNY York College
$52,401 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$52,364 · 5 yrs out
CUNY Hunter College
$52,265 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Thomas
$52,251 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Old Westbury
$52,251 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$52,133 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$52,022 · 5 yrs out
University of the District of Columbia
$51,929 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Carleton College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$136,177 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$136,177 · 5 yrs out
Statistics (Bachelor's)
$111,686 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$102,242 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$97,751 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$93,589 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$79,570 · 5 yrs out
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's)
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
Philosophy (Bachelor's)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's)
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
Philosophy and Religious Studies (Bachelor's)
$70,298 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$68,521 · 5 yrs out

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