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Fine and Studio Arts at California State University-Channel Islands

Camarillo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
37 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
37
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,129/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 19.3x earnings multiple (7.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #56 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Fine and Studio Arts graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $529K $526K $489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.4x 19.3x 17.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.1x 7.0x 6.5x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 37 34

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,268
Out-of-state: $74,788 (7.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$39,168
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,038
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,275
109% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $22,129/yr, Fine and Studio Arts graduates from California State University-Channel Islands land near the $25,391 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 19.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 36% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $13,038 debt-to-$22,129 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #56 out of 385 programs, California State University-Channel Islands's Fine and Studio Arts program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $22,129 to $46,275 over five years (109% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Channel Islands

With 93% of applicants admitted, California State University-Channel Islands prioritizes broad access, enrolling 5,230 students in Camarillo, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Channel Islands →

Top Career Paths

Art directors $111,040/yr
Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr
View all 12 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 385 schools offering Fine and Studio Arts →

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

Columbia University in the City of New York ($51,435) University of Southern California ($50,161) Ramapo College of New Jersey ($44,529) University of Nebraska at Kearney ($40,501) Barnard College ($39,947) Empire State University ($39,946) University of Pennsylvania ($38,820) Minnesota State University-Mankato ($38,717)

Other Majors at California State University-Channel Islands

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($103,484) Computer Science ($59,374) Economics ($57,440) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,581) Chemistry ($46,131) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($45,552) Communication and Media Studies ($40,109) Biology, General ($38,344)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Fine and Studio Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Channel Islands's Fine and Studio Arts program score?
This program scores 37/100 — on the lower end for Fine and Studio Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why does California State University-Channel Islands rank so high for Fine and Studio Arts?
The #56 ranking out of 385 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →