U.S. median for this major: $41,156.
College Scorecard field of study; 25 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 100% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,773.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $23,274. College Scorecard.
NMSU Visual and Performing Arts: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 New Mexico colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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.
Visual and Performing Arts nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses NMSU'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 | $6,648 | $29,650 | no earnings gain |
| $30–48k | $7,424 | $33,111 | no earnings gain |
| $48–75k | $9,861 | $43,980 | no earnings gain |
| $75–110k | $13,146 | $58,631 | no earnings gain |
| $110k+ | $14,049 | $62,659 | no earnings gain |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.5 years, the average time graduates took (32% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Visual and Performing Arts graduates 4 years after graduating ($27,875) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (Census ACS 2020-2024). 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.
Visual and Performing Arts at New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico college we cover that reports Visual and Performing Arts 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 | University of New Mexico | $44,091 | $16,750 | $15,489 | 55% |
| 2 | New Mexico State University | $27,875 | $28,000 | $8,889 | 55% |
3 more New Mexico colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Visual and Performing Arts graduates
Graphic Designers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -1.7% 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.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at NMSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NMSU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $39,067
- Full cost breakdown · all 79 majors · overview
Related majors at NMSU
- Studio Art—
- Film and Photography$37,880
NMSU Visual and Performing Arts questions
How much do NMSU Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn?
Visual and Performing Arts graduates of New Mexico State University earn a median $27,875 four years after graduating and $18,470 one year after. The U.S. median for Visual and Performing Arts graduates across 62 colleges is $41,156.
How much debt do NMSU Visual and Performing Arts graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Visual and Performing Arts graduates of New Mexico State University is $28,000, about 100% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,773.
Where does NMSU rank for Visual and Performing Arts in New Mexico?
Of 2 New Mexico colleges reporting Visual and Performing Arts graduate earnings, New Mexico State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of New Mexico at $44,091.
What jobs do Visual and Performing Arts graduates get?
A common career is graphic designers, with a median wage of $43,940 in the Las Cruces, NM area and $62,960 nationally. Others include art directors.
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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: “New Mexico State University Visual and Performing Arts: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/visual-and-performing-arts (College Scorecard and BLS data).