Fine and Studio Arts at Rockland Community College
NY · Associate's Degree · CIP 50.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Fine and Studio Arts degree from Rockland Community College earn a median salary of $36,956 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $27,997. The degree typically pays for itself in 37.2 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$23,987
Typical Career
$36,956
Top Performers
$57,248
Estimated break-even: 37.2 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$246
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,080. Most students can comfortably afford about a $246 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Educational Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$27,997
Nominal: $36,956 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $19,946 | $26,709 | $38,450 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $23,987 | $36,956 | $57,248 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $28,622 | $45,210 | $73,442 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $36,956 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $36,956 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $27,997 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries that Fine and Studio Arts graduates enter include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 30.0% of employment, followed by another segment in the same industry at 21.1%, and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services at 12.5%. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 37.2 years compared to a high school-only path, the return on investment may be considered low. Students should weigh these factors carefully when deciding on their educational and career paths.
Compare with Another School
See how the Fine and Studio Arts degree at Rockland Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Fine and Studio Arts at Rockland Community College.
Other Degrees at Rockland Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.