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Fine and Studio Arts at California State University-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $24,538/yr (-3% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)

ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #107 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs Top 50%

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	$467K	$469K	$442K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.1x	17.2x	16.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.3x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	41%	37%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	34	33	30

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,252

Out-of-state: $74,792 (6.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$16,452

40% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,500

9.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$38,595

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $24,538 track close to the $25,391 national median for Fine and Studio Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 17.2x 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 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $18,500 debt-to-$24,538 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #107 out of 385 programs, California State University-Los Angeles's Fine and Studio Arts offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $24,538 to $38,595 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Los Angeles

California State University-Los Angeles has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 21,478 students in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →

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

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Los Angeles

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Los Angeles's Fine and Studio Arts program score?

This program scores 33/100 — on the lower end for Fine and Studio Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →