Bachelor's-11% vs national median362 grads tracked
Fine and Studio Arts at Western Carolina University
Ranked 210th of 309 bachelor's programs in Fine and Studio Arts by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$29,963
middle 50%: $21,986 – $40,689
Median · 5 years out
$42,341
middle 50%: $30,660 – $52,668
Median · 10 years out
$50,153
middle 50%: $35,402 – $65,491
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Fine and Studio Arts (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn a median of $30k in year one. Earnings reach $50k by the tenth year.
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
10.2 yrs
≈ $12,217 total interest
Same major at other universities
Olivet Nazarene University
$42,570 · 5 yrs out
Fort Lewis College
$42,495 · 5 yrs out
Northern State University
$42,467 · 5 yrs out
Norfolk State University
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$42,371 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$42,343 · 5 yrs out
Southeastern Louisiana University
$42,268 · 5 yrs out
University of Cincinnati
$42,242 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Southern University
$42,127 · 5 yrs out
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
$42,104 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$42,087 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina at Wilmington (The)
$42,051 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Carolina University
Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$79,484 · 5 yrs out