Fine and Studio Arts at The University of Montana

University of Montana's studio arts program produces graduates earning just $22,149 their first year—about $5,000 below Montana's already-modest median for arts degrees. While debt loads aren't extreme at $26,187, that still amounts to more than a full year's salary, and the troubling part is what happens next: four years out, earnings have barely budged to $22,661. That's not a delayed-payoff story; that's flat income at poverty-level wages. Montana State University's arts graduates earn $32,265 by comparison, suggesting location alone doesn't explain these outcomes.

The 25th percentile ranking among Montana's six fine arts programs tells you this is struggling even by in-state standards. With a sample size under 30 graduates, individual circumstances could be skewing these numbers—perhaps these particular graduates pursued additional education or are working part-time while building their studio practice. But that uncertainty cuts both ways: the real picture could be worse.

For a family financing this with loans, the math is stark. At these earnings levels, standard loan payments would consume over 10% of take-home pay for a decade. Unless your student is entering this program with minimal debt (wealthy family, large scholarships, or planning to work through school), the financial risk is considerable for an outcome that appears unlikely to improve with time.