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Visual & Performing Arts · Fine Arts Rank #353 of 385

Fine Artsat Vassar College

Graduates earn $19,790/yr in their first year — about 22.0% below the national Fine Arts average. Base-case 10-year earnings $718K; scenarios range from $647K to $740K depending on AI disruption.

Poughkeepsie, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
21 AT RISK
21
Optimistic
19
Pessimistic
Earnings
$19,790
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$718K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Vassar College

Your Vassar Fine and Studio Arts degree, steeped in a rigorous liberal arts tradition, cultivates a deep conceptual understanding and critical eye, rather than focusing purely on vocational commercial art skills. This often leads graduates into diverse and sometimes non-traditional paths, including curatorial roles, arts administration, education, or entrepreneurial ventures where art is integrated with other passions. The earnings data reflects this broad artistic journey, where many prioritize creative impact and personal fulfillment, especially in early careers.

While Poughkeepsie isn't a major art market, Vassar's proximity to New York City offers unparalleled access to galleries, studios, and a vast professional network you'll want to leverage through internships and networking. Your unique human creativity and conceptual thinking will be vital in a field with moderate AI risk. To enhance your career prospects, actively build a strong portfolio and seek interdisciplinary minors or practical business skills to complement your artistic foundation.

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
$647K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score19/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$718K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple2.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$740K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Vassar College'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 Vassar College 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
University of Nebraska at Kearney
NE · Public
46
DW Score
$41K
1-yr earn
12.2x
ROI
Same state (NY)
Barnard College
NY · Private nonprofit
36
DW Score
$40K
1-yr earn
0.5x
ROI
Also at Vassar College

Other top programs at Vassar College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Vassar College, 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 Vassar College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine Arts at Vassar College?

A score of 21/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Fine Arts. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Can you still earn well with Fine Arts from Vassar College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.