Visual and Performing Arts, General
Visual & Performing Arts
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $29,669 | $27,042 to $34,099 | 13 | 23% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $39,958 | $33,880 to $45,907 | 75 | 69% |
| Master's Degree | $60,890 | $39,884 to $81,048 | 6 | 67% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +1% (2025 to 2035), about 55,400 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designers | $62,960 | -1.7% | 16,000 |
| Art Directors | $114,850 | +4.2% | 12,200 |
| Photographers | $44,660 | -0.7% | 10,700 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $78,620 | +2.2% | 8,000 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $102,030 | -0.3% | 4,200 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | -2.9% | 2,200 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a visual and performing arts, general program, of 414 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Full Sail University
- University of Central Florida
- The University of Texas at Dallas
- George Mason University
- Austin Community College District
- Columbus State Community College
- Otis College of Art and Design
- The University of Texas at Austin
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.