Fine and Studio Arts at Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College's Fine Arts program starts with alarmingly low earnings—$22,754 in year one—but the trajectory tells a more complex story. While graduates begin nearly $5,000 below Colorado's median for arts programs and fall in just the 25th percentile statewide, they experience 50% earnings growth by year four. That catch-up helps, but $34,095 four years out still lags behind what graduates from CSU-Fort Collins and University of Northern Colorado earn in their first year.

The $16,500 debt load provides some cushion against the weak initial earnings, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally for affordability. Still, starting at under $23,000 means those first few years will be financially tight, even with manageable debt. The practical reality: your child might need substantial family support or a second income source during that initial post-graduation period when earnings are weakest.

For families banking on an art degree leading to stable employment, this program's below-median performance within Colorado—where it ranks in the bottom quarter—is difficult to justify on pure financial grounds. The debt won't crush them, but the earnings picture suggests Fort Lewis graduates struggle more than peers from other Colorado schools to establish themselves professionally in the arts.