Program Analysis
Graduates earn $26,870/yr, edging above the $25,391 national average for Fine and Studio Arts — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
The financial case is thin at 2.2x — 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $26,870 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #351 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs, St Olaf College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Five-year earnings of $43,251 show a 61% jump from the $26,870 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.