Fine and Studio Arts at Western Michigan University

Starting at just $21,773—barely above minimum wage—Western Michigan's Fine Arts graduates face a tough first year, though earnings do climb to $29,264 by year four, matching the national 75th percentile. The nearly $28,500 in debt is actually lower than both state and national medians for art programs, which helps when starting salaries are this compressed. Among Michigan's 29 art programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile—solidly middle of the pack but trailing U-M Ann Arbor by nearly $10,000 and Eastern Michigan by over $7,000.

The 34% earnings growth suggests some graduates find their footing after that difficult first year, but the timeline matters: four years after graduation, these alumni are still earning less than $30,000 annually. The debt load is manageable relative to peers in this field, but the absolute numbers create a challenging financial picture when starting salaries barely cover basic living expenses in many parts of Michigan.

If your child is serious about studio arts specifically and committed to WMU, understand they'll need either family support, significant savings, or a flexible side income for several years post-graduation. The moderate debt and eventual earnings growth keep this from being the worst-case scenario for an art degree, but it's nowhere near a safe financial bet.