Fine Arts Degree in New York, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Fine Arts degree analysis for New York, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$94K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$97K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in New York
Cost of Living
187.2
index (100 = avg)
Fine Arts in New York, NY Overview
New York is one of New York's top college towns, with 279 institutions and a student population of 418,559. Public tuition averages $10,200/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. 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 New York is approximately $93,600.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
279
Public Tuition
$10,200/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,701/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,243/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
59%
Fine Arts Salary in New York (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for New York's cost of living index of 187.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Fine Arts salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.New York adjustment factor: 1.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Fine Arts ROI Calculator for New York
Estimate your return on investment for a Fine Arts degree using local New York tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,200 | Private avg: $42,000
New York avg aid: $8,243/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$115,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$28,080
vs HS diploma in New York
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in New York
$71,596
Lifetime earnings premium ($187,200) minus total education cost ($115,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Fine Arts in New York
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in New York for Fine Arts
New York State University
public
$9,794/yr
$39,176 total
University of New York
public
$10,109/yr
$40,436 total
New York Institute of Technology
private
$38,089/yr
$152,356 total
New York University - New York
public
$10,609/yr
$42,436 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
New York Community College
$7,506/yr
New York Technical College - New York
$8,204/yr
Top Employers for Fine Arts in New York
New York offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Fine Arts graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key New York Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Fine Arts Job Titles
Fine Arts in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$70K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in New York
UX Design
$94K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$109K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$94K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$94K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$90K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$94K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$94K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$94K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts Degree in New York — 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 New York.