Fine and Studio Arts at Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount's Fine Arts graduates start at $27,210—modestly above California's median for the program—but the real story emerges by year four, when earnings nearly double to $53,748. That puts this program ahead of 60% of California's Fine Arts programs and well above the national median of $24,742. While the four-year mark shows impressive growth, it still trails elite competitors like USC ($50,161 starting) and Cal Poly SLO ($36,006), though LMU graduates who stick with arts-related careers appear to find their footing after the initial lean years.

The $23,600 debt load is reasonable compared to national Fine Arts benchmarks ($25,295 median), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 means graduates owe less than a year's starting salary—manageable for an arts degree. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these figures are reasonably reliable, though not as robust as larger programs.

For parents, the question is whether your student can navigate those first few years earning under $30,000. If they're willing to hustle through early-career uncertainty and can secure financial support during that period, the trajectory here is promising. But if immediate financial independence matters, this program's delayed payoff makes it a riskier bet than more immediately lucrative fields.