Fine and Studio Arts at Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Tech's fine arts graduates start at just $19,231—significantly below both the Tennessee median ($22,714) and national average ($24,742) for this major. That puts them in the bottom quarter of Tennessee art programs and the 14th percentile nationally. However, the trajectory tells a more optimistic story: earnings jump 81% by year four to nearly $35,000, eventually surpassing several higher-ranked programs. The debt picture offers genuine relief here, with graduates owing just $13,935 compared to the state median of $24,880. That's less than what you'd accumulate in half a year of first-year earnings.

For an arts degree, this represents an unconventional value proposition. You're accepting below-market starting salaries in exchange for manageable debt and solid earning potential down the line. Whether that works depends on your child's financial runway—can they weather those lean first couple years? If they have family support or can minimize living costs early on, they'll emerge with minimal debt burden and income that eventually outpaces peers at pricier Tennessee programs. But students needing immediate earnings to cover their own expenses should look at the programs where graduates start $7,000-10,000 higher out of the gate.