Fine and Studio Arts at Morehead State University

Morehead State's fine arts graduates start at just $17,301—well below both the national median ($24,742) and Kentucky median ($23,656) for this degree. While earnings grow impressively to $26,546 by year four (a 53% increase), graduates still trail peers at Northern Kentucky ($31,448) and University of Louisville ($28,485). This program ranks in the bottom 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within Kentucky, suggesting most art graduates elsewhere achieve better outcomes.

The $25,000 median debt roughly matches the national average for art degrees, but when your first-year salary barely exceeds $17,000, that burden matters more. Art degrees rarely lead to high salaries anywhere, but Morehead's outcomes lag significantly behind comparable Kentucky programs. The strong earnings growth is encouraging—it shows graduates do find better opportunities over time—but starting from such a low base means even after four years, they're earning less than first-year graduates from several peer institutions.

For families considering this program, understand that you're looking at likely financial struggle in the early years. If your child is committed to studio arts specifically, they'd have measurably better earning prospects at Northern Kentucky or Louisville. Morehead might work if location or scholarship money makes it substantially cheaper, but the earnings data suggests this isn't where Kentucky's strongest art career outcomes happen.