Fine and Studio Arts at Youngstown State University

Youngstown State's Fine and Studio Arts program asks graduates to shoulder $31,000 in debt—more than 80% of comparable programs nationwide—but the earnings outcomes don't justify that price tag. While first-year earnings of $29,203 outpace both the national and Ohio medians for this field, they barely cover the debt burden (1.06 ratio), leaving little room for rent, car payments, and student loans simultaneously.

The program's performance relative to other Ohio arts programs tells a more nuanced story. At the 60th percentile statewide, graduates earn more than Ohio's median but still trail the state's top programs. Meanwhile, Youngstown State charges more debt than nearly every arts program in the country—only 5% carry higher balances. The 20% earnings bump by year four helps, but graduates still face years of financial constraint that peers at lower-debt schools avoid.

For families considering an arts degree, this creates a difficult calculation. Your child will likely out-earn typical arts graduates, but they'll do so while managing debt levels associated with far more lucrative fields. If Youngstown State is the only feasible option, the outcomes are decent enough to make it work. But if schools like Bowling Green or Cincinnati are accessible—offering similar or better earnings with less debt—those represent safer bets for the same creative education.