Fine and Studio Arts at George Fox University

George Fox University's Fine Arts program shows surprisingly strong earnings outcomes despite the small graduate sample—first-year median earnings of $31,401 place graduates in the 86th percentile nationally, well above the typical fine arts graduate who earns around $25,000. Within Oregon, it ranks in the 60th percentile and essentially ties Western Oregon University for top earnings in the state. The debt load of $26,000 is exactly Oregon's median for this program and sits comfortably in the 40th percentile nationally, meaning most comparable programs saddle students with more debt.

The real standout here is the earnings trajectory: graduates see 48% income growth between years one and four, reaching $46,357. That's exceptional momentum for an arts degree and suggests graduates are finding sustainable career paths rather than hitting the income ceiling common in creative fields. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 means graduates owe less than one year's starting salary—manageable by most standards.

The caveat matters, though: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, a few exceptional outcomes could skew these numbers significantly. But if you're set on studying fine arts in Oregon, this program appears to deliver better-than-expected preparation for earning a living. The combination of reasonable debt and above-average early career earnings makes it one of the stronger fine arts investments in the state.