Fine and Studio Arts at Southeastern Louisiana University

Southeastern Louisiana's fine arts program deserves attention for one significant strength: graduates who stick with the field see meaningful earnings growth, jumping from $23,405 to $31,266 over four years—a 34% increase that outpaces what most fine arts graduates experience. While the starting salary ranks in the middle of the pack nationally (39th percentile), it places at the 60th percentile among Louisiana programs, essentially matching the state median. For an accessible state university with a 94% admission rate, that's a reasonable outcome.

The debt load of $24,250 creates a manageable first-year ratio of 1.04, meaning graduates owe roughly what they earn in their initial year—not ideal, but workable compared to many fine arts programs where debt can exceed two years' salary. The real question is whether students will stay in fields where those fourth-year earnings of $31,266 materialize, as fine arts degrees notoriously lead graduates toward varied career paths with inconsistent income.

For Louisiana families keeping their student in-state, this program performs on par with LSU's fine arts offering and better than UL Lafayette, though it lags behind Nicholls State's stronger outcomes. If your child is serious about pursuing studio arts and willing to build skills over several years, Southeastern provides a path that improves over time without crushing debt. Just understand that even at year four, $31,266 requires careful budgeting and possibly supplementary income.