Fine and Studio Arts at Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Arizona State's Digital Immersion arts program manages something rare: graduates start at $27,762—already above the national median—and grow their earnings by 31% within four years. That trajectory lands them solidly in the 68th percentile nationally and helps offset the below-median starting salary that typically defines arts degrees. The $23,395 debt load sits slightly below national norms for arts programs, creating a 0.84 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable, though not exceptional.

Within Arizona, this program matches the state median for arts earnings and performs comparably to the main ASU campus while charging slightly more debt than the state average. The digital focus appears to offer some practical advantage over traditional fine arts training, with graduates showing consistent income growth through year four. For context, this outpaces University of Arizona's arts program at the one-year mark but trails it after four years.

The key question is whether mid-$30k earnings justify a bachelor's degree investment, even with healthy growth. For students committed to arts careers who value ASU's digital curriculum and online flexibility, the numbers work better than most arts programs. But families expecting immediate financial returns should recognize that year-one earnings barely exceed $2,300 per month before taxes—this is a passion-driven path that requires patience and likely side income while building a creative career.