Fine arts degrees: a worthy endeavor?
Generally viewed as less profitable compared to STEM majors, is it really worth the time and money to pursue a college degree in the fine arts?
April 26, 2017
Fine Arts: Worth it
Majoring in the arts has gained a bad reputation for producing lower incomes than other majors, and as such, artists are generally seen as the underdogs of society for choosing the “unconventional” path of life. However, when it comes to studying the arts in college, students will be receiving a comprehensive education well beyond the basic art arts courses in high school. This inaccurate reputation stigmatizes those who choose to study what they are most passionate about.
Claiming that these degrees are inherently unprofitable and hence useless harms our culture. Art is a reflection of who we are; to shy students away from art degrees is turning them away from self-expression and asking them to give up a part of themselves. No one can fill in the large shoes of great American artists, such as Georgia O’Keefe and Andy Warhol, when society discourages the very profession. Although it is true that artists do not need degrees to be successful, art degrees are not just pieces of paper. Careers such as digital designers, stage managers and museum directors are more easily attainable with an arts degree in hand.
It is fair to say that art is seen as an “unlikely” career choice because of the low chances of being successful. However, these stereotypes are blown out of proportion and simply wrong. According to The Guardian, 56.8 percent of fine arts graduates directly enter employment. These degrees can also lead to further growth, as another 19 percent continued their training after receiving their degrees.
Realists will claim that an art degree will take you nowhere, but that is not the case. For the student who is afraid of not making a living with an arts major, they shouldn’t be fooled by society. One doesn’t have to be a famous director to be considered successful in their field. Many behind the scenes, hands-on, technical jobs are available after graduation.
According to a survey by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project, 92 percent of alumni who sought employment were employed. The study also found that a degree in fine arts can lead to entrepreneurial opportunities, as 14 percent of the employed had founded their own company. After graduating, careers in the field of arts can have a median yearly income of $150,000, according to the survey. Having a career in the arts can result in a more than livable salary.
If a college student dreams of one day performing in a prestigious concert hall or producing the next Oscar-winning film, no one should stop them from studying what they love. Even if students decide not to pursue a career in the arts, what they learn will add value to whatever career they decide.
Fine arts: An unworthy struggle
I appreciate and enjoy the arts as much as anyone, and while I don’t want to sound like the parents who are only happy when their children pursue medicine or engineering, I am forced to recognize the fact that in our society, “I’m studying (insert art major here)” has become a euphemism for “I’m studying unemployment.”
The arts undoubtedly enrich our society and it would be an exaggeration to say that an arts degree is useless, but the fact of the matter is, life after college is cruel to art majors, as it favors those who have studied STEM related subjects and can readily contribute to a market that is driven by technological advancement.
The skills learned during years of education in the fine arts or performing arts are not seen as marketable job skills, leaving students who have chosen to pursue the arts at a disadvantage in the job market.
This risk of financial security is most often the largest deterrent to pursuing the arts in college, and rightfully so. An art degree is just as expensive as any other, but the benefits of it do not outweigh the costs, literally.
According to a 2013 report published by Payscale, fine arts majors on average earn a starting salary of $31,800 per year, which is $18,756 less than the average annual income in the United States for someone with a college degree.
Additionally, a degree in the arts very rarely leads to an actual career in the arts. An article published in The Atlantic stated that only 10 percent of those who graduate with an art degree continue on to earn their living as artists.
Because of the nature of the arts industry in regards to hiring, an arts degree may not even help when applying for jobs in your field of study as recruiters tend to favor candidates with relevant experience and a portfolio over those with art degrees, according to Kristen Harris, the owner of a staffing agency.
It would be wiser to place your time during college studying a field that may help you find a job later on, should the dream of using art as a source of income not work out.
While I applaud those who are brave enough to pursue their passion of the arts in college regardless of all the reasons not to, the bottom line is that a degree in the arts isn’t going to help you pay the rent or make car payments.
It is so easy to idealize a future of deviating from the traditional path and taking risks to follow a passion of art, but when reality hits, and it inevitably does for most, you’re left only with the realization of the truth behind the stereotype of a struggling artist.