U.S. median for this major: $41,590.
College Scorecard field of study; 44 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 60% 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 $19,992. College Scorecard.
Western Carolina University 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 Western Carolina University'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 | $8,816 | $38,261 | 4.0 years |
| $30–48k | $10,012 | $43,452 | 4.6 years |
| $48–75k | $12,605 | $54,706 | 5.8 years |
| $75–110k | $17,060 | $74,040 | 7.8 years |
| $110k+ | $17,992 | $78,085 | 8.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (41% 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 ($43,029) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NC (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $9,513 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 North Carolina colleges
Every North Carolina 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 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | $54,007 | $27,000 | $17,303 | 85% |
| 2 | East Carolina University | $45,817 | $27,000 | $15,739 | 63% |
| 3 | Western Carolina University | $43,029 | $26,000 | $13,315 | 60% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | $42,192 | $26,672 | $20,109 | 71% |
| 5 | North Carolina Central University | $42,067 | $31,000 | $15,359 | 42% |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $41,722 | $14,600 | $11,655 | 91% |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $41,383 | $27,000 | $15,435 | 69% |
| 8 | Appalachian State University | $41,002 | $21,985 | $16,836 | 75% |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $36,793 | $27,000 | $10,260 | 44% |
| 10 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $35,628 | $25,000 | $10,965 | 56% |
| 11 | North Carolina A & T State University | $31,202 | $31,000 | $10,846 | 57% |
25 more North Carolina 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 Western Carolina University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Carolina University
- Acceptance rate: 82% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 60% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $49,458
- Full cost breakdown · all 55 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Carolina University
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$58,467
- Music$44,014
- Theatre$34,516
Western Carolina University Studio Art questions
How much do Western Carolina University Studio Art graduates earn?
Studio Art graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median $43,029 four years after graduating and $24,253 one year after. The U.S. median for Studio Art graduates across 420 colleges is $41,590.
How much debt do Western Carolina University Studio Art graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Studio Art graduates of Western Carolina University is $26,000, about 60% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,361.
Is Western Carolina University a good school for Studio Art in North Carolina?
On pay, Studio Art graduates of Western Carolina University earn $43,029 four years out, $1,307 above the median for the same major across 11 North Carolina colleges ($41,722) and $1,439 above the U.S. median ($41,590). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Carolina University rank for Studio Art in North Carolina?
Of 11 North Carolina colleges reporting Studio Art graduate earnings, Western Carolina University ranks 3rd. The highest is North Carolina State University at Raleigh at $54,007.
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 $57,650 in North Carolina 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: “Western Carolina University Studio Art: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-carolina-university/majors/studio-art (College Scorecard and BLS data).