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Fine and Studio Arts at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,783/yr (13% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)

ROI 11.9x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #95 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	$478K	$479K	$451K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.8x	11.9x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.3x	4.3x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	41%	37%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	34	29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,432

Out-of-state: $110,992 (4.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,696

-72% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

9.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$42,040

46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,783 at University of Nebraska-Lincoln come in 13% above the national median of $25,391 for Fine and Studio Arts programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.9x 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 $21,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,783 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #95 of 385 nationally, this is a top-5% Fine and Studio Arts program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $28,783 to $42,040 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University of Nebraska-Lincoln accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 18,887 in Lincoln, NE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln →

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 University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine and Studio Arts at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Fine and Studio Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Fine and Studio Arts program stand out?

Ranked #95 of 385 programs nationally, University of Nebraska-Lincoln lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →