WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-6% vs national median178 grads tracked

Visual and Performing Arts at Macalester College

Ranked 194th of 376 bachelor's programs in Visual and Performing Arts by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,252
middle 50%: $20,535 – $46,207
Median · 5 years out
$45,870
middle 50%: $29,704 – $58,632
Median · 10 years out
$67,449
middle 50%: $43,798 – $87,139

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 Macalester College's bachelor's program in Visual and Performing Arts earn a median $31,252 one year after graduating, rising to $67,449 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $48,719 for this field, ranking 194th 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
8.8 yrs
≈ $10,940 total interest

Same major at other universities

Metropolitan State University
$45,999 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Parkside
$45,979 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
$45,927 · 5 yrs out
Utah Tech University
$45,912 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis College of Art & Design
$45,905 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Cortland
$45,903 · 5 yrs out
Ball State University
$45,862 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Tech University
$45,840 · 5 yrs out
University of Northern Iowa
$45,821 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$45,805 · 5 yrs out
University of Saint Francis
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Snow College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Macalester College

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$121,630 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$99,879 · 5 yrs out
Economics (Bachelor's)
$94,989 · 5 yrs out
Physics (Bachelor's)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's)
$68,022 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Bachelor's)
$64,005 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Bachelor's)
$61,737 · 5 yrs out
Education (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
Education, General (Bachelor's)
$61,545 · 5 yrs out
International/Globalization Studies (Bachelor's)
$58,734 · 5 yrs out

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