Visual and Performing Arts at Fordham University

Fordham's Visual and Performing Arts program delivers a rare outcome in this field: graduates who actually outearn their debt burden within the first year. At $41,165, median earnings sit at the 95th percentile both nationally and within New York—nearly double the state median of $21,094 and $7,000 ahead of Siena College, the next-best NY program. The $27,000 debt load sits at the 25th percentile nationally, meaning 75% of comparable programs leave students with more debt for far worse outcomes.

For context, the typical visual and performing arts graduate in New York earns just $21,094 their first year while carrying similar debt. Fordham's combination of relatively controlled borrowing and significantly stronger earnings creates a 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable by arts program standards. The program appears to benefit from Fordham's location and network in New York's competitive arts and media scene, giving graduates access to opportunities that smaller programs simply can't match. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these numbers.

This is about as good as the visual and performing arts picture gets at the bachelor's level. While these aren't tech industry salaries, your child would be entering the arts with a genuine financial foundation rather than crushing debt and poverty wages. If they're committed to this path, Fordham offers substantially better odds than nearly any alternative in the state.