U.S. median for this major: $41,590.
College Scorecard field of study; 53 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 62% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,361.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $51,889. College Scorecard.
Columbia College Chicago Studio Art: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Studio Art nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Columbia College Chicago's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $20,924 | $90,810 | 14.2 years |
| $30–48k | $21,423 | $92,976 | 14.6 years |
| $48–75k | $25,590 | $111,061 | 17.4 years |
| $75–110k | $31,677 | $137,478 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $36,436 | $158,132 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (39% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Studio Art graduates 4 years after graduating ($42,176) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $6,379 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Studio Art at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Studio Art graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University | $51,386 | $20,125 | $19,398 | 65% |
| 2 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $45,602 | $27,000 | $49,790 | 67% |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $44,902 | $26,500 | $13,297 | 62% |
| 4 | Northeastern Illinois University | $44,312 | $20,319 | $14,109 | 22% |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University | $44,202 | $25,781 | $13,391 | 49% |
| 6 | Columbia College Chicago | $42,176 | $26,000 | $26,598 | 52% |
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago | $41,924 | $26,000 | $10,974 | 62% |
| 8 | Eastern Illinois University | $39,923 | $25,000 | $12,786 | 47% |
| 9 | Wheaton College | $38,363 | $23,281 | $26,975 | 85% |
| 10 | DePaul University | $37,085 | $26,999 | $30,902 | 68% |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $36,717 | $27,280 | $14,889 | 57% |
| 12 | Western Illinois University | $35,703 | $27,000 | $12,937 | 45% |
33 more Illinois colleges offer Studio Art but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Studio Art graduates
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Art Directors
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +4.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Museum Technicians and Conservators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Columbia College Chicago, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Columbia College Chicago
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 52% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $42,195
- Full cost breakdown · all 26 majors · overview
Related majors at Columbia College Chicago
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$48,601
- Music$40,734
- Graphic Communications$43,970
- Theatre$39,986
- Film and Photography$41,200
Columbia College Chicago Studio Art questions
How much do Columbia College Chicago Studio Art graduates earn?
Studio Art graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn a median $42,176 four years after graduating and $22,765 one year after. The U.S. median for Studio Art graduates across 420 colleges is $41,590.
How much debt do Columbia College Chicago Studio Art graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Studio Art graduates of Columbia College Chicago is $26,000, about 62% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,361.
Is Columbia College Chicago a good school for Studio Art in Illinois?
On pay, Studio Art graduates of Columbia College Chicago earn $42,176 four years out, $126 above the median for the same major across 12 Illinois colleges ($42,050) and $586 above the U.S. median ($41,590). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Columbia College Chicago rank for Studio Art in Illinois?
Of 12 Illinois colleges reporting Studio Art graduate earnings, Columbia College Chicago ranks 6th. The highest is Illinois State University at $51,386.
What jobs do Studio Art graduates get?
A common career is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, with a median wage of $98,970 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area and $72,040 nationally. Others include art directors and museum technicians and conservators.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Columbia College Chicago Studio Art: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/columbia-college-chicago/majors/studio-art (College Scorecard and BLS data).