Fine Artsat Fort Hays State University
Graduates earn $31,909/yr in their first year — about 26.0% above the national Fine Arts average. Base-case 10-year earnings $515K; scenarios range from $480K to $517K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State's Fine and Studio Arts program consistently delivers outcomes that defy its more rural setting, positioning graduates well above the national average for the major. This success often stems from a curriculum that skillfully integrates traditional artistic principles with highly marketable digital and applied art skills. You're not just learning to paint or sculpt; you're likely developing proficiency in areas like digital illustration, animation software, or graphic design, which are crucial for roles in advertising, media production, and corporate design departments.
Many graduates leverage these practical skills to find opportunities in larger regional markets like Kansas City or Denver, or even nationally, for roles as art directors, animators, or in specialized design firms. Your focus here should be on building a robust, diversified portfolio that prominently features these applied skills and demonstrates your ability to adapt creative vision to commercial realities.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Fort Hays State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Fine Arts
How Fort Hays State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Fort Hays State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fort Hays State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Fine Arts offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Fine Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Fine Arts at Fort Hays State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine Arts at Fort Hays State University?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Fine Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
What makes Fort Hays State University's Fine Arts program stand out?
Ranked #3 of 385 programs nationally, Fort Hays State University lands in the top 1%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.