Fine and Studio Arts at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $24,742/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #79 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Fine and Studio Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $493K $493K $462K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.8x 16.8x 15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.1x 8.1x 7.5x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,994
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$42,697
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $24,742 track close to the $25,391 national median for Fine and Studio Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Fine and Studio Arts programs nationally.

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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $12,994 represents roughly 6 months of the $24,742 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #79 of 385 nationally, this is a top-5% Fine and Studio Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $42,697 show a 73% jump from the $24,742 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About CUNY City College

With a 58% acceptance rate, CUNY City College is moderately selective, with a mid-sized student body of 11,934 in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
View all 12 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at CUNY City College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine and Studio Arts at CUNY City College?
A score of 35/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Fine and Studio Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
What makes CUNY City College's Fine and Studio Arts program stand out?
Ranked #79 of 385 programs nationally, CUNY City College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is CUNY City College a hidden gem for Fine and Studio Arts?
After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below the $29,360 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →