Fine and Studio Arts: Empire State University vs University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Head-to-Head
| Empire State University | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.7x | 8.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.8x | 4.1x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $30,520 | $66,280 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $39,946 | $36,236 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $480K | $587K |
| Median Debt | $13,688 | $25,974 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 4.1 months | 8.6 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 53/100 | 41/100 |
Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (36% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Fine and Studio Arts graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Fine and Studio Arts graduates.
| Empire State University | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $30,520 | $66,280 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $70,160 | $141,584 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $480K | $587K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.7x | 8.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.8x | 4.1x |
"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.
AI Disruption Scenarios
Both schools share identical AI exposure for Fine and Studio Arts (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| Empire State University | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $478K | $480K | $451K | $596K | $587K | $539K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 15.7x | 15.7x | 14.8x | 9.0x | 8.8x | 8.1x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 53 | 53 | 48 | 42 | 41 | 36 |
For the full AI analysis of Fine and Studio Arts career paths, see the Empire State University or University of Massachusetts-Lowell program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Fine and Studio Arts graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Fine and Studio Arts graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art directors | $111,040 | 12,300 | +4.2% | 50% |
| Special effects artists and animators | $99,800 | 5,000 | +1.6% | 52% |
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $80,190 | 9,000 | +1.7% | 44% |
| Artists and related workers, all other | $72,760 | 1,200 | +0.8% | 0% |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $64,580 | 66,200 | -1.6% | 33% |
| Curators | $61,770 | 1,800 | +7.0% | 50% |
| Archivists | $61,570 | 1,100 | +3.8% | 50% |
| Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators | $60,560 | 2,200 | -1.2% | 43% |