Fine and Studio Arts: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs Montana State University
Head-to-Head
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Montana State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.1x | 15.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.1x | 3.9x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $44,300 | $32,332 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $36,006 | $32,265 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $756K | $493K |
| Median Debt | $17,886 | $25,125 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 6.0 months | 9.3 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 52/100 | 47/100 |
| Acceptance Rate | 29.8% | 86.8% |
Both programs have moderate AI automation risk (36% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Fine and Studio Arts graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Fine and Studio Arts graduates.
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | Montana State University | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $44,300 | $32,332 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $123,980 | $125,348 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $756K | $493K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.1x | 15.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.1x | 3.9x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +144% | +42% |
"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 and Studio Arts (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 | Montana State University | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $781K | $756K | $678K | $493K | $493K | $462K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 17.6x | 17.1x | 15.3x | 15.3x | 15.3x | 14.3x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 53 | 52 | 46 | 48 | 47 | 43 |
For the full AI analysis of Fine and Studio Arts career paths, see the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or Montana State University program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Fine and Studio Arts graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Fine and Studio Arts 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% |