Fine Arts at Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Fine and Studio Arts

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,136/yr (7% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)

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

ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$424K	$430K	$410K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.9x	11.1x	10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	41%	37%	31%
DegreeOutlook Score	29	28	24

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,848

Out-of-state: $97,248 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,324

-58% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$31,631

17% growth from Year 1

Colorado Mesa University has a 81% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 7,604 in Grand Junction, CO.

Art directors $111,040/yr

Special effects artists and animators $99,800/yr

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190/yr

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.

How does Colorado Mesa University's Fine Arts program score?

This program scores 28/100 — on the lower end for Fine 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 →