Fine and Studio Arts at University of Mississippi

The small sample size here matters—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates—but the pattern is troubling enough to warrant serious hesitation. Ole Miss fine arts graduates earn $18,337 their first year out, roughly 25% below the national median for studio arts programs and landing them in just the 5th percentile nationally. While this places them at the state median (60th percentile within Mississippi), that speaks more to weak outcomes across Mississippi's arts programs than to any strength at Ole Miss.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.43 means graduates owe more than a full year's salary, which becomes particularly painful at under-$19,000 earnings. That's below full-time minimum wage in most contexts. The $26,225 in debt is close to national norms for this degree, but paired with such weak earnings, repayment will be a genuine struggle. Fine arts degrees rarely lead to high early earnings, but Ole Miss's outcomes lag behind three-quarters of comparable programs nationwide.

If your child is set on studio art at Ole Miss, treat this as a passion degree that likely requires either significant family financial support or a clear plan for additional income during the early career years. The combination of below-poverty wages and typical student debt makes financial independence extremely difficult without help. Consider whether starting at a community college or choosing a less expensive path to the same degree might preserve their artistic goals while avoiding debt that will take years to manage.