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Fine and Studio Arts at Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,845/yr (21% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 10.9x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs Top 10%

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 $544K $539K $500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.0x 10.9x 10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.0x 5.9x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$49,532
Out-of-state: $90,904 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,200
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,378
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,398
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,845 at Northeastern Illinois University come in 21% above the national median of $25,391 for Fine and Studio Arts programs.

The 10.9x 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 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $17,378 debt-to-$30,845 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #25 ranking out of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs nationally puts Northeastern Illinois University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $30,845 to $53,398 over five years (73% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University accepts 70% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 3,869 in Chicago, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 54% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern Illinois University →

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

Compare this program → View all 385 schools offering Fine and Studio Arts →

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

Columbia University in the City of New York ($51,435) University of Southern California ($50,161) Ramapo College of New Jersey ($44,529) University of Nebraska at Kearney ($40,501) Barnard College ($39,947) Empire State University ($39,946) University of Pennsylvania ($38,820) Minnesota State University-Mankato ($38,717)

Other Majors at Northeastern Illinois University

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,615) Computer Science ($62,831) Accounting and Related Services ($50,475) Human Resources Management and Services ($49,131) Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,807) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,630) Business/Commerce, General ($45,015) Marketing ($43,320)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Fine and Studio Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Northeastern Illinois University's Fine and Studio Arts program score?
This program scores 40/100 — 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 →