Fine and Studio Arts at Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
27 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
27
Optimistic
27
Base Case
24
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,362/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 10.4x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #268 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 $438K $443K $421K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.3x 10.4x 9.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.3x 5.4x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 27 27 24

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$42,400
Out-of-state: $82,720 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$60,608
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
10.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,915
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $25,362 track close to the $25,391 national median for Fine and Studio Arts programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Fine and Studio Arts programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Fine and Studio Arts's typical career paths, with 36% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 10 months of the $25,362 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #268 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs, Stephen F Austin State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $25,362 to $33,915 over five years — a 34% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Stephen F Austin State University

Stephen F Austin State University has a 88% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 8,746 in Nacogdoches, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Stephen F Austin State 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

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine and Studio Arts at Stephen F Austin State University?
A score of 27/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Fine and Studio Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →