Home Schools University of Louisiana at Lafayette Visual & Performing Arts
Visual & Performing Arts · Visual & Performing Arts Rank #44 of 59

Visual & Performing Artsat University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Graduates earn $16,871/yr in their first year — about 34.0% below the national Visual & Performing Arts average. Base-case 10-year earnings $382K; scenarios range from $371K to $370K depending on AI disruption.

Lafayette, LA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
20 AT RISK
20
Optimistic
18
Pessimistic
Earnings
$16,871
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$382K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Your focus here should be on understanding the unique dynamics of a broad arts degree in this specific regional context. The earnings data often reflects the local labor market, where creative opportunities in Lafayette might lean more towards community-based arts, local design work, or K-12 education rather than the high-paying film, animation, or advertising roles concentrated in major industry hubs. A general visual and performing arts degree at a public university like UL Lafayette provides a solid foundation, but you'll likely need to actively specialize, build a distinctive portfolio, and potentially seek opportunities in larger markets or pursue advanced training to achieve the higher salary potentials listed. Consider how you can tailor your studies and networking to align with a specific niche within the arts that either thrives locally or can translate to remote or out-of-state work.

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
$371K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score18/100
Earnings Multiple8.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$382K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple9.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$370K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score20/100
Earnings Multiple8.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Louisiana at Lafayette'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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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
Longwood University
VA · Public
32
DW Score
$35K
1-yr earn
6.5x
ROI
Siena College
NY · Private nonprofit
27
DW Score
$34K
1-yr earn
0.9x
ROI
George Mason University
VA · Public
35
DW Score
$32K
1-yr earn
8.5x
ROI
Also at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Other top programs at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette

What does a 20/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Visual & Performing Arts at University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

At 20/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Visual & Performing Arts programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.

Should I worry about AI if I study Visual & Performing Arts at University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

The 38% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of Louisiana at Lafayette a good choice for Visual & Performing Arts despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If University of Louisiana at Lafayette's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.