Program Analysis
Graduates earn $26,196/yr, roughly in line with the $25,391 national median for Fine and Studio Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
At 8.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $27,000 debt load exceeds a year of the $26,196 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.
At #200 out of 385 programs, Western Illinois University's financial outcomes for Fine and Studio Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $26,196 to $43,046 over five years (64% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.