Fine and Studio Arts at Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
28 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
28
Optimistic
28
Base Case
25
Pessimistic
Earnings $22,754/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #218 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs

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 $469K $471K $444K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.1x 12.2x 11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.7x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 28 28 25

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,680
Out-of-state: $83,192 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$69,356
-79% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,465
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$38,124
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $22,754/yr, Fine and Studio Arts graduates from Fort Lewis College land near the $25,391 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 12.2x 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 $16,465 debt-to-$22,754 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #218 out of 385 programs, Fort Lewis College's financial outcomes for Fine and Studio Arts trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $22,754 to $38,124 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Fort Lewis College

With 93% of applicants admitted, Fort Lewis College prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 3,070 students in Durango, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Fort Lewis College →

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 Fort Lewis College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Fort Lewis College's Fine and Studio Arts program score?
This program scores 28/100 — 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 →