Fine and Studio Arts at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

UNLV's fine arts program outperforms the typical arts degree by a meaningful margin—graduates earn $27,740 initially and see that climb to over $38,000 by year four. That 38% earnings growth is notable in a field where many graduates struggle to gain financial traction. Within Nevada, this program sits in the 60th percentile, making it the stronger choice over UNR's comparable offering which starts graduates at $24,906. Nationally, UNLV ranks in the 67th percentile, placing it well above the $24,742 median for fine arts programs.

The debt picture is equally encouraging. At $29,719, graduates owe just slightly more than their first-year salary—a 1.07 ratio that's manageable compared to many arts programs where debt often exceeds earnings by 50% or more. This debt load ranks in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of fine arts programs saddle students with more debt. For a university serving 40% Pell-eligible students, keeping costs this controlled matters significantly.

The reality remains that fine arts is not a high-earning field—even UNLV's stronger-than-average outcomes place graduates below most other bachelor's degrees. But if your child is committed to this path, this program delivers about as favorable an outcome as you'll find: above-average starting pay, strong earnings momentum, and debt that won't derail their career before it starts.