Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 67.6%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 69.2%
- Retention Rate
- 80.7%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $38,252
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $27,000
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 63.4%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $286/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $50,677 | $29,765 |
| Museology/Museum Studies. | Master | $36,848 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Master | $36,726 | |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $22,329 | $27,000 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry. | Bachelor | $21,964 | |
| Dance. | Bachelor | $21,613 | $27,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | Bachelor | $21,052 | $27,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor | $20,140 | $27,000 |
| Music. | Bachelor | $19,358 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $18,771 | $27,000 |
Outcomes Overview
University of the Arts graduates face a challenging financial reality that reflects broader trends in arts education. With median debt of $27,000 and median earnings of $38,252 ten years after graduation, graduates carry a debt-to-income ratio of 71%. Monthly loan payments of $286 consume about 9% of typical graduate income. The employment rate of 91.3% shows most graduates find work, often in creative fields like theater companies, galleries, media production, and arts education where passion projects mix with financial survival. Many supplement performance or studio work with teaching or commercial gigs. While graduates build meaningful careers in competitive creative industries, the financial returns represent a weak return on investment compared to other fields.