Program Analysis
At $17,690 per year, Fine and Studio Arts graduates from California College of the Arts earn below the $25,391 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
The financial case is thin at 2.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Fine and Studio Arts's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 against $17,690/yr in first-year earnings means roughly 1.5 years of salary goes to loan repayment. That's a heavy but not crushing debt load.
Ranked #375 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs, California College of the Arts falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $34,104 show a 93% jump from the $17,690 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.