Fine Arts Degree in Evansville, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Fine Arts degree analysis for Evansville, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$43K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$45K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Evansville
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Fine Arts in Evansville, IN Overview
Evansville, Indiana (pop. 117,298) has 10 colleges offering Fine Arts programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $974/month. Although national enrollment in Fine Arts has been declining, graduates with skills in Drawing and Painting remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Evansville is approximately $43,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,448/yr
Private Tuition
$42,316/yr
Room & Board
$11,425/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,482/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
57%
Fine Arts Salary in Evansville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Evansville's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Fine Arts salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Evansville adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Fine Arts ROI Calculator for Evansville
Estimate your return on investment for a Fine Arts degree using local Evansville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,448 | Private avg: $42,316
Evansville avg aid: $12,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,492
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,900
vs HS diploma in Evansville
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Evansville
$6,508
Lifetime earnings premium ($86,000) minus total education cost ($79,492)
Student Loan Payoff for Fine Arts in Evansville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Evansville for Fine Arts
University of Evansville
private
$42,316/yr
$169,264 total
University of Southern Indiana
public
$8,448/yr
$33,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Fine Arts in Evansville
Evansville offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Fine Arts graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Evansville Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Fine Arts Job Titles
Fine Arts in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$47K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$52K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
South Bend, IN
$45K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$53K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$50K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$42K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$47K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$42K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Evansville
UX Design
$43K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$50K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$43K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$43K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$41K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$43K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$43K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$43K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts Degree in Evansville — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Fine Arts ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Evansville.