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Visual & Performing Arts · Visual & Performing Arts Rank #9 of 59

Visual & Performing Artsat Longwood University

Graduates earn $34,812/yr in their first year — about 36.0% above the national Visual & Performing Arts average. Base-case 10-year earnings $488K; scenarios range from $458K to $488K depending on AI disruption.

Farmville, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
32 AT RISK
32
Optimistic
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,812
1-year post-graduation
ROI
6.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$488K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Longwood University

Longwood's Visual and Performing Arts program stands out nationally, suggesting a curriculum that effectively prepares students for the professional world beyond traditional fine arts. The "General" nature of the degree likely provides a broad skillset, emphasizing adaptable design principles, digital media proficiency, and critical thinking that appeals to a diverse range of employers. You’re not just learning technique; you’re developing problem-solving abilities that translate into commercial applications.

This versatility helps graduates find roles in marketing, advertising, digital content creation, and even educational settings, where strong conceptual and applied art skills are highly valued. While the overall field faces high AI risk, your success hinges on developing unique human creativity, strategic vision, and the ability to *manage* AI tools, rather than competing directly with them. Focus on building a robust, diverse portfolio that showcases both your artistic voice and your command of contemporary technologies.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$458K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score26/100
Earnings Multiple7.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$488K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple8.0x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$488K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score32/100
Earnings Multiple8.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Longwood University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Visual & Performing Arts graduates typically work

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.

1
Art directors
+4.2% 10-yr growth · 12,300 openings/yr
$111,040/yr
High
2
Special effects artists and animators
+1.6% 10-yr growth · 5,000 openings/yr
$99,800/yr
High
3
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
+1.7% 10-yr growth · 9,000 openings/yr
$80,190/yr
Moderate
4
Artists and related workers, all other
+0.8% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$72,760/yr
Low
5
Graphic designers
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 20,000 openings/yr
$61,300/yr
High
6
Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators
-1.2% 10-yr growth · 2,200 openings/yr
$60,560/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Visual & Performing Arts

How Longwood University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Drexel University
PA · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
1.1x
ROI
Fordham University
NY · Private nonprofit
32
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
0.7x
ROI
Siena College
NY · Private nonprofit
27
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
Same state (VA)
George Mason University
VA · Public
35
DW Score
$32K
1-yr earn
8.5x
ROI
University of Florida
FL · Public
34
DW Score
$31K
1-yr earn
11.0x
ROI
Also at Longwood University

Other top programs at Longwood University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Longwood University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Visual & Performing Arts offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Visual & Performing Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Visual & Performing Arts at Longwood University

How does Longwood University's Visual & Performing Arts program score?

This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Visual & Performing Arts. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Visual & Performing Arts to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Visual & Performing Arts careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 38% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Longwood University rank so high for Visual & Performing Arts?

The #9 ranking out of 59 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.