Fine and Studio Arts at Maine College of Art & Design

Maine College of Art & Design graduates start earning roughly the national median for studio arts programs, but slightly above what's typical in Maine. That 60th percentile state ranking matters here—with just 12 art programs in Maine, this is meaningfully better than staying local might suggest. Graduates earn $24,555 in their first year and see modest growth to $26,403 by year four, which represents genuine progression in a field known for stagnant early-career pay.

The financial picture is actually more manageable than many art school scenarios. At $27,000 in debt—equal to about 1.1 times first-year earnings—graduates face reasonable monthly payments relative to their income. This debt level sits at the 25th percentile nationally, meaning three-quarters of art programs leave students with higher loan burdens. For context, the University of Southern Maine's art graduates earn even less ($21,058) with similar debt loads.

The reality is straightforward: this program won't launch anyone into financial comfort, but it also won't bury them in unmanageable debt. If your child is committed to pursuing studio art professionally, MECA&D provides that training at a cost that won't make the already-difficult artist's path impossible. The key question isn't whether this is a lucrative degree—no undergraduate studio arts program is—but whether $27,000 in loans is acceptable for pursuing this particular career. For a specialized art school, that's actually a relatively controlled investment.