Visual and Performing Arts at Illinois State University

Illinois State's Visual and Performing Arts program starts below minimum wage—just $24,384 first year—but earns its keep through impressive growth. By year four, graduates reach nearly $36,000, a 47% jump that outpaces most arts programs nationally. Among Illinois's handful of arts programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, edging out the state median by roughly $800.

The real advantage here is debt management. At $22,000, graduates owe $2,000 less than the state average and $3,500 below the national median for arts programs. That lower debt load matters significantly when starting salaries are this modest—the debt-to-earnings ratio stays under 1.0, meaning graduates aren't buried in payments during those lean early years.

Still, parents should understand what "good for an arts degree" actually means. Even after four years of growth, earnings remain well below what most bachelor's degrees deliver. This program makes sense if your student is committed to an arts career and values the trajectory over the starting point. The combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings growth within Illinois creates manageable financial pressure while pursuing creative work. Just recognize that "manageable" still means years of modest paychecks before breaking into solid middle-income territory.