College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges for Art Careers
If you’ve always dreamed of a job that lets you use your creativity, but are discouraged by the fear of becoming a starving artist, pay close attention to the following College ROI rankings.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name:_50px.png) Carnegie Mellon University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$829,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$309,000 | Graduation Rate:92% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$26,100 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$808,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$117,000 | Graduation Rate:93% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$28,100 |
| Rank:3 | School Name: California Institute of the Arts (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$760,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$304,000 | Graduation Rate:64% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$39,900 |
| Rank:4 | School Name:Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$724,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$202,000 | Graduation Rate:93% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$28,100 |
| Rank:5 | School Name: Stanford University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$670,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$314,000 | Graduation Rate:95% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$52,000 |
| Rank:6 | School Name: | 20 Year Net ROI:$651,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$117,000 | Graduation Rate:85% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$24,500 |
| Rank:7 | School Name: University of California-Berkeley (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$642,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$165,000 | Graduation Rate:94% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$29,000 |
| Rank:8 | School Name: - Lowell Campus_50px.png) University of Massachusetts-Lowell (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$620,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$128,000 | Graduation Rate:71% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$28,700 |
| Rank:9 | School Name:_50px.jpg) San Jose State University (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$613,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$119,000 | Graduation Rate:68% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$22,400 |
| Rank:10 | School Name: Fashion Institute of Technology (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$607,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$126,000 | Graduation Rate:83% | Typical Years to Graduate:- | Average Loan Amount:$34,900 |
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Our Best Schools For Art Jobs category incorporates everything from art directors, to audio and video technicians, to copywriters to graphic designers. By using Payscale data to find out which art schools provide the best ROI, you can study a subject you love and still find a way to pay back your student loans and eat more than Top Ramen every night.
A school that seems to perennially excel in any and all areas of study, including fine art, the University of California, Berkeley (“Cal”) often comes in near the top of Payscale’s College ROI Report when it comes to earning a degree in the arts. Notable UC Berkeley alums who went on to a have successful career in the arts include actor Chris Pine (“Star Trek”), musician Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles), and legendary actor Gregory Peck (“To Kill a Mockingbird”, “Roman Holiday” and “Moby Dick”).
If you live for Fashion Week and have always dreamed of having your creations appear in the pages of Vogue, then The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, may be the best school for you. Despite the fact that fashion jobs are some of the hardest arts jobs to come by and that fashion is a competitive field, FIT alumni who go on to work in their chosen field often see a solid return on their educational investment. Most people don’t know that the Fashion Institute of Technology is a public school, which may explain how it keeps costs down for students. Reem Acra, Nina Garcia, Nanette Lepore and Calvin Klein all attended FIT.
These days, pursuing a career in the arts requires more than just raw talent if you want to be able to pay your bills. Most art jobs now require some technological know-how, whether it’s familiarity with the software used in graphic design, video production or fashion, or a little knowledge of computer programming and coding. You can absolutely have a successful career in the arts, but before you choose that professional path, it’s imperative that you learn complementary skills and do your research to find out which art schools provide their alumni with the best return on investment.
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