At $44,154/yr net price, University of the Arts graduates earn $38,252/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $4,252/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $44,154 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $176,616 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,252/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$4,252/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 41.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 69.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $42,104/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $41,675/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $43,345/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $43,590/yr |
| $110,001+ | $46,757/yr |
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 |
The Risk Factor
69.2% of students at University of the Arts graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 31% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
The financial return at University of the Arts is weak, and the numbers don't leave much room for debate. You pay about $44,000 a year in net price and, ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $38,252. That earnings figure sits below what many people make without any degree at all, and it comes after four years of a private-school price tag.
The program-level data makes this worse. Every bachelor's program listed,Design and Applied Arts, Crafts, Dance, Drama, and Film/Video and Photography,reports early-career earnings in the low $20,000s. None of them clears $23,000. These are the arts fields the school is built around, and the Philadelphia job market for dancers, stagecraft workers, and craft artisans does not pay enough to cover a bill this size. There is no high-earning program here to point to as the safe bet.
The debt is the concrete risk. You graduate owing around $27,000 across these programs, and you're paying it back on an income near $21,000 in your early years. That ratio is rough, and the 69% graduation rate means a real share of you leave with debt and no degree.
The net price tiers make the aid picture blunt: families earning under $30,000 still pay about $42,000, barely less than families earning over $110,000 who pay $46,757. The discount for low income is small, so if your family can't absorb roughly $42,000 a year, this school will require heavy borrowing.
This is a good financial fit only if you can pay most of the cost without loans and treat the arts training as worth more to you than the paycheck it produces. If you need your degree to service debt, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of the Arts worth the cost?
University of the Arts has poor financial returns, with graduates earning a median of $38,252 ten years after enrollment while paying $44,154 annually. Most art programs lead to starting salaries well below the cost of attendance, making this a high-risk financial investment.
What are the best paying majors at University of the Arts?
Teacher Education programs offer the highest returns at $50,677 median earnings, followed by Museology at $36,848. Fine Arts and Design programs typically lead to much lower earnings around $22,000-$36,000.
How much debt do University of the Arts graduates have?
The median debt load is $27,000, which is manageable compared to many schools. However, with most graduates earning under $40,000 annually, even this modest debt burden creates financial stress for art career paths.
Does University of the Arts have good graduation rates?
The graduation rate is 69%, meaning about one in three students who start never finish their degree. This adds to the financial risk since students may accumulate debt without earning their credential.