Fine and Studio Arts at Illinois State University

Illinois State's art program achieves something rare: it dramatically outperforms both the national field and the Illinois market for studio arts. With first-year earnings of $36,000, graduates earn 45% more than the typical Illinois art graduate ($26,200) and rank in the 95th percentile nationally. Among Illinois schools, only Southern Illinois University-Carbondale matches these outcomes, making this the second-best earnings result in the state for this major.

The numbers get more impressive when you consider the debt picture. At $20,125, graduates carry about $6,000 less debt than the national median while earning substantially more—creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 that's quite manageable by art degree standards. Earnings also show healthy growth, reaching $42,000 by year four. Whether Illinois State has stronger industry connections, better career services, or simply attracts more commercially-minded art students, something about this program is working that isn't happening at most schools offering this degree.

For an anxious parent, here's the practical takeaway: if your child is committed to studying art, this represents one of the better financial bets available. You're looking at solid earning potential right out of school, reasonable debt, and a trajectory that suggests sustainable career development. The 89% admission rate means getting in shouldn't be the obstacle—but your child should still investigate what specifically makes ISU graduates more employable in this field.