Fine and Studio Arts at North Carolina A & T State University

The numbers here should stop you in your tracks. First-year earnings of $15,257 against $31,000 in debt means your child would owe more than twice what they're likely to earn in that critical first year—and these graduates are making less than every other studio arts program in North Carolina except one. Even accounting for the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked), this program ranks in just the 10th percentile statewide and 5th percentile nationally. For context, NC State's studio arts graduates earn roughly double at $30,577, while the state median sits at $22,050.

The debt load compounds the problem. At $31,000, graduates here carry $4,000 more than the typical North Carolina studio arts graduate and $6,000 above the national benchmark. Half the university's students receive Pell grants, suggesting many families are already stretching financially—taking on this level of debt for earnings this low creates a precarious financial situation that could take decades to resolve.

While the small sample means a few data points could skew these figures, the pattern is concerning enough that you need concrete assurances before committing. Ask the department directly about recent graduate outcomes, internship pipelines, and job placement support. If they can't provide more encouraging data beyond what the Department of Education captured, this particular investment carries substantial risk regardless of your child's artistic passion.