Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $27,467 at University of South Carolina-Columbia come in 8% above the national median of $25,391 for Fine and Studio Arts programs.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 6% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $23,125 represents roughly 10 months of the $27,467 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #192 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $27,467 to $40,790 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.