Visual and Performing Arts at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne

University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne's visual arts program produces earnings that beat the national average by nearly 10%, though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means individual outcomes could vary significantly from these medians. What makes this program notable is the debt level: at $27,000, it's actually below the national median for arts programs and creates a nearly 1-to-1 debt-to-earnings ratio. For a performing arts degree—where many graduates face crushing debt relative to income—this represents unusually responsible borrowing.

The first-year salary of $27,684 won't support an extravagant lifestyle, but it matches Indiana's median for arts graduates and lands in the 69th percentile nationally. Among just three Indiana schools offering this program, Saint Francis sits at the median. The school serves a predominantly working-class student body (43% receive Pell grants), and the program seems designed to launch careers without burying graduates in debt.

The real question is trajectory: arts careers often start modestly but can build over time, though we lack data on longer-term earnings here. For a student genuinely committed to an arts career, this program offers a path that doesn't require betting the financial future on uncertain outcomes. Just remember that fewer than 30 students graduated—these numbers could shift dramatically year-to-year.