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Fine and Studio Arts at Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
23 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
23
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,202/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (36% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (118,400 openings/yr)
ROI 2.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #326 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 $400K $408K $392K
Earnings Multiple 2.3x 2.3x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 41% 37% 31%
DegreeOutlook Score 24 23 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$175,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,936
39% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
11.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $23,202/yr, roughly in line with the $25,391 national median for Fine and Studio Arts. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The financial case is thin at 2.3x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $23,202 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #326 of 385 Fine and Studio Arts programs, Wheaton College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Wheaton College

Wheaton College accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 2,087 in Wheaton, IL. The average net cost of $107,936 over four years represents a 39% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wheaton College →

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

Compare this program → View all 385 schools offering Fine and Studio Arts →

Fine and Studio Arts at Other Schools

Columbia University in the City of New York ($51,435) University of Southern California ($50,161) Ramapo College of New Jersey ($44,529) University of Nebraska at Kearney ($40,501) Barnard College ($39,947) Empire State University ($39,946) University of Pennsylvania ($38,820) Minnesota State University-Mankato ($38,717)

Other Majors at Wheaton College

Computer Science ($81,470) Economics ($62,889) Business/Managerial Economics ($55,300) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,714) Political Science and Government ($45,069) International Relations and National Security Studies ($40,084) Communication and Media Studies ($39,321) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($37,025)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Fine and Studio Arts trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Fine and Studio Arts at Wheaton College?
A score of 23/100 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 →