Fine and Studio Arts at Cornell University

Cornell's Fine and Studio Arts program shows remarkably strong earnings outcomes for an arts degree, but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers might not reflect the typical graduate's experience. That caveat aside, the data suggests graduates land in unusually lucrative positions: the $31,073 first-year median sits in the 85th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among New York programs—far above the state median of $24,041. More striking is the trajectory: earnings more than double to $63,028 by year four, suggesting these graduates either find their footing in competitive creative markets or leverage Cornell's brand into adjacent careers. The $17,153 debt load is notably lower than both the national ($25,295) and state ($23,000) medians for this field.

The challenge with this data is its reliability. Small sample sizes in elite programs often capture outliers—perhaps a few graduates who became successful designers or artists, or who pivoted into consulting or tech. What we can say with confidence is that Cornell arts graduates who do find stable employment appear to do significantly better than peers from other schools. For families who can afford Cornell's tuition (and its 8% admission rate suggests many can), the program pairs modest debt with above-average earning potential for this field. Just understand you're looking at a narrow slice of outcomes, not a guaranteed path.