Fine and Studio Arts at Arcadia University

With fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers require careful interpretation, but they suggest Arcadia's fine arts program trails most Pennsylvania alternatives. At $22,389 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $2,700 less than the state median for studio arts programs—placing this in the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania schools. The debt load of $26,975 is roughly average, but when paired with below-median earnings, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.2, meaning graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary.

The 43% earnings growth to $32,105 by year four is the program's strongest feature, outpacing inflation and bringing graduates closer to financial stability. However, even that four-year mark sits well below what University of Pennsylvania ($38,820) or Carnegie Mellon ($32,597) fine arts graduates earn immediately after graduation. For context, this program underperforms both national and state benchmarks for studio arts degrees, which already represent one of the lower-earning credential categories.

If your child is passionate about studio arts and committed to Arcadia specifically, understand they'll likely face several years of financial constraint after graduation. The small sample size means outcomes could vary more than typical, but the available data points toward a challenging financial start. Consider whether comparable programs at Pitt or Moravian might offer better earning trajectories for similar debt levels.