Fine and Studio Arts: Empire State University vs University of Utah

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Empire State University
Saratoga Springs, NY
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
In-State
15.7x
$30,520 tuition
13.5x
$37,260 tuition
Out-of-State
6.8x
$70,160 tuition
4.2x
$119,348 tuition
$479,743 10-yr earnings · Public
$504,529 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

Empire State University University of Utah
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 4.2x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $30,520 $37,260
Year 1 Earnings $39,946 $33,081
10-Year Earnings $480K $505K
Median Debt $13,688 $22,500
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 4.1 months 8.2 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 53/100 46/100

Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (36% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Fine and Studio Arts graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Fine and Studio Arts graduates.

Empire State University University of Utah
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $30,520 $37,260
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $70,160 $119,348
10-Year Projected Earnings $480K $505K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.7x 13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.8x 4.2x

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Fine and Studio Arts (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Empire State University University of Utah
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $478K $480K $451K $506K $505K $471K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 15.7x 15.7x 14.8x 13.6x 13.5x 12.6x
DegreeWorth Score 53 53 48 47 46 41

For the full AI analysis of Fine and Studio Arts career paths, see the Empire State University or University of Utah program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Fine and Studio Arts graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$6,740
Empire State University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$6,865/yr
Empire State University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
15.7x / 13.5x
Out-of-state: 6.8x / 4.2x

Career Paths

Fine and Studio Arts graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Art directors $111,040 12,300 +4.2% 50%
Special effects artists and animators $99,800 5,000 +1.6% 52%
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 9,000 +1.7% 44%
Artists and related workers, all other $72,760 1,200 +0.8% 0%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
Curators $61,770 1,800 +7.0% 50%
Archivists $61,570 1,100 +3.8% 50%
Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators $60,560 2,200 -1.2% 43%
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Fine and Studio Arts Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Fine and Studio Arts: Empire State University or University of Utah?
Empire State University scores 53/100 while University of Utah scores 46/100. Empire State University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Fine and Studio Arts?
Empire State University has an in-state earnings multiple of 15.7x vs University of Utah's 13.5x. That means Empire State University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do Empire State University and University of Utah compare on Fine and Studio Arts earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $39,946 at Empire State University vs $33,081 at University of Utah. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $479,743 vs $504,529 — a difference of $24,786.
How much does Fine and Studio Arts cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $30,520 at Empire State University and $37,260 at University of Utah. Median debt at graduation is $13,688 vs $22,500. Both programs lead to the same Fine and Studio Arts career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.