Fine and Studio Arts at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 50.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Fine and Studio Arts degree from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill earn a median salary of $51,619 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $52,780. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.5 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$37,528
Typical Career
$51,619
Top Performers
$70,150
Estimated break-even: 10.5 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$344
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,302. Most students can comfortably afford about a $344 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$52,780
Nominal: $51,619 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% higher 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 | $24,769 | $34,840 | $46,394 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $37,528 | $51,619 | $70,150 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $49,855 | $69,262 | $105,099 |
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 $51,619 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $51,619 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780)
= $52,780 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (21.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (18.1%), and Educational Services (15.8%). This diverse range of employment sectors suggests that Fine and Studio Arts graduates can find opportunities in various fields, enhancing their overall return on investment. With an estimated break-even point of approximately 10.5 years compared to a high-school-only path, pursuing this degree may offer a viable long-term financial benefit, particularly for those passionate about the arts.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the Fine and Studio Arts degree at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
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.