Fine and Studio Arts at Florida International University

FIU's Fine and Studio Arts program starts graduates at $22,334—below both state and national medians—but the story gets more interesting over time. By year four, earnings jump 38% to $30,805, which actually surpasses the top-performing Florida program's starting salary. This trajectory matters: while graduates begin earning roughly $1,200 less than the Florida median, they end up ahead of where most Fine Arts graduates in the state ever get. Among Florida's 24 programs, this lands in the 40th percentile initially but shows stronger growth potential than the ranking suggests.

The debt picture provides genuine relief here. At $17,250, graduates carry about $5,000 less than the Florida median and nearly $8,000 below the national benchmark for this field. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 means the first-year salary actually exceeds the debt load—uncommon for arts degrees. With 40% of students on Pell grants, this relatively manageable debt burden matters for the institution's working-class student population.

For parents, here's the calculation: your child will likely struggle financially in those first years out of school, but won't be crushed by debt while figuring things out. The earnings growth suggests graduates who stick with arts-related work find their footing. This isn't a path to quick financial security, but it's less risky than most Fine Arts programs—particularly for students already committed to creative careers.