Visual & Performing Arts at California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Visual and Performing Arts, General
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,741/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk
High (38% exposed)
Job Market
Large (63,400 openings/yr)
ROI
15.4x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Visual & Performing Arts graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $476K | $477K | $449K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.4x | 15.4x | 14.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.1x | 6.1x | 5.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 41% | 37% | 30% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 31 | 31 | 26 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (6.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,625
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,204
49% growth from Year 1
About California State University-San Marcos
With 96% of applicants admitted, California State University-San Marcos prioritizes broad access, serving 14,174 students in San Marcos, CA. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →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
Compare & Explore
Visual & Performing Arts at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State University-San Marcos
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Visual & Performing Arts at California State University-San Marcos?
A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Visual & Performing Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Visual & Performing Arts careers?
With 38% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $448,605 in decade earnings vs $475,511 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-San Marcos's Visual & Performing Arts program stand out?
Ranked #11 of 59 programs nationally, California State University-San Marcos lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →