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Visual & Performing Arts · Fine Arts Rank #6 of 385

Fine Artsat University of Nebraska at Kearney

Graduates earn $40,501/yr in their first year — about 60.0% above the national Fine Arts average. Base-case 10-year earnings $474K; scenarios range from $446K to $472K depending on AI disruption.

Kearney, NE Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
46 AVERAGE
47
Optimistic
40
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,501
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$474K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Nebraska at Kearney

The strong financial outcomes for UNK's Fine and Studio Arts program highlight a crucial distinction: this isn't solely about gallery art. Your success likely stems from a curriculum that effectively balances traditional artistic development with marketable skills, preparing you for applied creative roles. The program likely has strong regional connections, feeding graduates into local and regional advertising agencies, marketing departments, design firms, or educational institutions across Nebraska and neighboring states. These employers consistently need visual communicators, digital artists, and art educators. The listed career paths, like art director or special effects artist, underscore this focus on commercial and digital applications where a creative eye meets practical industry needs. To maximize your potential, actively seek out internships and build a diverse portfolio showcasing both your artistic vision and your proficiency in relevant digital tools and design principles.

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
$446K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple13.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$474K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$472K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple14.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Fine 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
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
6
Curators
+7.0% 10-yr growth · 1,800 openings/yr
$61,770/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Fine Arts

How University of Nebraska at Kearney stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Columbia University in the City of New York
NY · Private nonprofit
37
DW Score
$51K
1-yr earn
1.0x
ROI
University of Southern California
CA · Private nonprofit
38
DW Score
$50K
1-yr earn
1.2x
ROI
Ramapo College of New Jersey
NJ · Public
45
DW Score
$45K
1-yr earn
6.7x
ROI
Barnard College
NY · Private nonprofit
36
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
0.5x
ROI
Top score
Empire State University
NY · Public
47
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
12.1x
ROI
Also at University of Nebraska at Kearney

Other top programs at University of Nebraska at Kearney

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Nebraska at Kearney, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

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

Compare Fine Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Fine Arts at University of Nebraska at Kearney

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine Arts at University of Nebraska at Kearney?

A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Fine Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

What makes University of Nebraska at Kearney's Fine Arts program stand out?

Ranked #6 of 385 programs nationally, University of Nebraska at Kearney lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.