Fine and Studio Arts at Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State's studio arts program stands out among Texas schools, with graduates earning $35,776 four years out—placing it near the top of the state's programs despite the university's accessible 85% admission rate. That's $9,300 more than the typical Texas arts graduate and substantially higher than the national benchmark of $24,742. Among all fine arts programs nationally, this ranks in the 84th percentile.

The $31,000 median debt sits above state and national averages, but the 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates typically earn enough in their first year to match what they borrowed—a reasonable outcome for an arts degree. The 15% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are finding stable footing rather than cycling through survival jobs, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means your child's experience could vary significantly from these medians.

For families weighing an arts degree, this program demonstrates you don't need to attend UT-Austin or an expensive private school to achieve solid outcomes. SHSU's combination of lower tuition costs and above-average earnings makes it a pragmatic choice, particularly for students who want to stay in Texas where the program's regional network appears to hold value.