Fine and Studio Arts at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Fine Arts program stands out dramatically in a field not known for strong earnings outcomes. At $33,285 in first-year earnings, graduates earn 35% more than the national median for studio arts programs and place in the 95th percentile nationally. Within Illinois, this program trails only Illinois State and nearly matches North Park, landing in the 80th percentile statewide—a notable achievement for a school with a 90% admission rate.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $26,500, it's essentially in line with both state and national medians for art programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 that's manageable by any standard. The slight earnings dip to $32,550 by year four suggests graduates may start in higher-paying positions that evolve into more stable creative work, but even at that lower point, earnings remain well above typical outcomes for studio arts degrees.

For parents concerned about the notoriously difficult economics of arts education, this program offers something rare: competitive earnings that actually materialize. Your child won't be rich, but they're far less likely to face the underemployment that plagues most studio arts graduates. Among Illinois art programs, this is a defensible choice that won't leave them drowning in debt while working retail.