Fine and Studio Arts at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

An annual income of $13,559 barely reaches minimum wage threshold, and that's what recent graduates from this program earned a year after completion. While the $9,500 debt load is relatively modest—actually slightly below the state median—no amount of debt is manageable when you're earning poverty-level wages. Even among New York's Fine and Studio Arts associate programs, which generally struggle with low earnings, this program sits right at the state median, meaning half of similar programs in NY produce better outcomes.

The concerning reality is that this isn't a stepping stone to higher earnings for most graduates. Over half of students here receive Pell grants, meaning they come from lower-income families where every dollar of debt matters more. An associate degree that leaves you earning well below the poverty line doesn't create the economic mobility these students need. For context, other CUNY community colleges like Queensborough deliver 23% higher earnings for the same credential in the same city.

If your child is serious about an arts career, they'd be better served working, building a portfolio, and avoiding debt altogether—or pursuing the arts alongside a more financially viable program. At these earnings levels, even modest student loans become a burden rather than an investment.