Fine and Studio Arts at Portland State University

Portland State's fine arts program ranks in the bottom quarter for earnings both nationally and within Oregon, where graduates earn roughly $6,000 less annually than the state median. That earnings gap matters because the program carries $35,000 in debt—about $9,000 above what's typical for Oregon art programs and substantially higher than the national benchmark. Your child would be starting their career earning less than they owe, with first-year earnings barely above $20,000.

The 36% earnings growth to $28,000 by year four offers some hope, but even that improved figure trails what Western Oregon and George Fox art graduates earn right out of school. Given that PSU serves a high percentage of Pell students (40%), many graduates here are taking on significant debt relative to their financial starting point. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.68 means nearly two years of gross income would be needed just to cover what's borrowed.

For families who can fund this education without loans, Portland State's accessible admission and urban location might work. But if your child needs to borrow the typical $35,000, they'll face a difficult financial runway that even the strongest earnings growth doesn't fully resolve. Oregon has demonstrably better-performing art programs at similar or lower debt levels.