Fine and Studio Arts at Washington and Lee University
VA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 50.07
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Fine and Studio Arts degree from Washington and Lee University earn a median salary of $67,887 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $66,231. The degree typically pays for itself in 7.6 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
$46,994
Typical Career
$67,887
Top Performers
$91,685
Estimated break-even: 7.6 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$453
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,657. Most students can comfortably afford about a $453 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.8x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.9x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Finance & Insurance, 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
$66,231
Nominal: $67,887 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% 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 | $19,970 | $31,171 | $44,060 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $46,994 | $67,887 | $91,685 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $68,164 | $94,389 | $144,040 |
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 $67,887 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $67,887 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $66,231 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 reveal a diverse range of opportunities, with 26.8% entering Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, followed by 20.1% in Finance & Insurance, and 11.1% in Educational Services. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 7.6 years, suggesting that while the initial earnings may be lower, the long-term return on investment can be favorable. This data indicates that pursuing a degree in Fine and Studio Arts at Washington and Lee University can lead to rewarding career paths and financial stability over time.
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 Washington and Lee University 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.