Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $24,475 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 12.0x 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 3% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $23,883 represents roughly 12 months of the $24,475 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #271 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs, Marshall University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $24,475 to $31,004 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.