Fine and Studio Arts at SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo State's studio arts program shows a trajectory that should ease some immediate worries. Yes, that $24,041 starting salary is tough—barely above poverty level for a single person—but graduates see 62% earnings growth by year four, reaching nearly $39,000. That's actually faster income progression than many arts programs deliver. Within New York, this program sits at the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms a majority of the state's studio arts offerings despite Buffalo State's modest admission profile (53% of students receive Pell grants).

The debt picture is reasonable at $23,000, particularly since it's below the national median for arts degrees. Still, when your first-year earnings barely cover living expenses, any debt requires a plan. Most Buffalo State arts graduates will need to supplement income through multiple jobs or freelance work in those early years—this is the reality of building a creative career, not a failing of the program.

The practical question is whether your child has the financial runway to weather those first few years. If they're entering without additional family debt and can live affordably (Buffalo's cost of living helps here), this program offers a legitimate path forward. The earnings growth suggests graduates are building viable careers, not just cobbling together barista shifts. For families who can't subsidize multiple lean years post-graduation, though, that initial salary gap presents real hardship.