Fine Arts & Studio Art: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Florida Atlantic University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
12.6x
$44,300 tuition
16.4x
$19,516 tuition
Out-of-State
4.5x
$123,980 tuition
4.6x
$69,296 tuition
$36,006/yr starting · Public
$28,726/yr starting · Public

Head-to-Head

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Florida Atlantic University
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.6x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $44,300 $19,516
Year 1 Earnings $36,006 $28,726
10-Year Earnings $557K $320K
Median Debt $17,886 $13,867
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 6.0 months 5.8 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 62/100 60/100
Acceptance Rate 29.8% 73.4%

Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (36% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Fine Arts & Studio Art graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Fine Arts & Studio Art graduates.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Florida Atlantic University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $44,300 $19,516
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $123,980 $69,296
10-Year Projected Earnings $557K $320K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 16.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +144% +45%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Fine Arts & Studio Art (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Florida Atlantic University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $1,197K $557K $289K $453K $320K $230K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 27.0x 12.6x 6.5x 23.2x 16.4x 11.8x
DegreeWorth Score 68 62 54 62 60 56

For the full AI analysis of Fine Arts & Studio Art career paths, see the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Florida Atlantic University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Fine Arts & Studio Art graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$24,784
Florida Atlantic University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$7,280/yr
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
12.6x / 16.4x
Out-of-state: 4.5x / 4.6x

Career Paths

Fine Arts & Studio Art graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Art directors $111,040 12,300 +4.2% 50%
Special effects artists and animators $99,800 5,000 +1.6% 52%
Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary $80,190 9,000 +1.7% 44%
Artists and related workers, all other $72,760 1,200 +0.8% 0%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
Curators $61,770 1,800 +7.0% 50%
Archivists $61,570 1,100 +3.8% 50%
Fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators $60,560 2,200 -1.2% 43%

Explore Each Program

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Fine Arts & Studio Art Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Fine Arts & Studio Art: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Florida Atlantic University?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores 62/100 while Florida Atlantic University scores 60/100. Florida Atlantic University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Fine Arts & Studio Art?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an in-state earnings multiple of 12.6x vs Florida Atlantic University's 16.4x. That means Florida Atlantic University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $24,784 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and Florida Atlantic University compare on Fine Arts & Studio Art earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $36,006 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs $28,726 at Florida Atlantic University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $557,185 vs $319,887 — a difference of $237,298.
How much does Fine Arts & Studio Art cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $44,300 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and $19,516 at Florida Atlantic University. Median debt at graduation is $17,886 vs $13,867. Both programs lead to the same Fine Arts & Studio Art career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.