Fine Arts Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Fine Arts degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$78K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Philadelphia is approximately $75,000.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Fine Arts Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Fine Arts salary: $50,000 starting, $52,000 mid-career, $65,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Fine Arts ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Fine Arts degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$22,500
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$-2,660
Lifetime earnings premium ($150,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Fine Arts in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Fine Arts
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Fine Arts in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Fine Arts graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Fine Arts Job Titles
Fine Arts in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$58K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$57K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$59K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$47K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$60K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$63K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$46K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Philadelphia
UX Design
$75K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$87K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$75K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Industrial Design
$75K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$72K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$75K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$75K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$75K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Philadelphia.