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The Life of An Art Student: In Debt, In Despair, and In Need of Help

Amanda Hurteau
Writing 104
Cumberland High School

Abstract
Modern times around education has gotten more dim with the looming figures of debt
and tuition. For art students, it seems even more grim with the competitive market for jobs right
after college with the same heavy burden of debt. A study here has been conducted to find the

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possible solutions and get to the root of the problem of tuition, debt, and how it is affecting
aspiring artists of today. Many solutions has risen, like students switching to Bachelors of Arts
instead of Bachelors of Fine Arts, but not getting the information that they need to succeed as an
artist from the difference. The only point would be to create specific art schools to become
public, or integrate them so that they would be able to have better financial aid available to local
future students.
Proposal
In todays society, colleges are leaving more students in debt than ever from the past.
Especially those taking an interest in the fine arts; Private fine arts schools charging ridiculous
amounts of money for jobs that have a lower income than most other jobs in the area. This deters
not only future artists, but concerned parents who dont want their children to become so fully in
debt.
A huge part of the problem with these schools is the general tuition raise that is
happening within both public and private colleges and universities. Since the 1970s, tuition has
increased the expectancy of lower taxes and the demand created by the increase in colleges and
universities. So steady has this increase been, the debt for college students are estimated to be
$240,000 for private colleges, and $155,000 for public colleges(Clark 2011). That is high, and
limited is that an average college art student will be around $60,000 in debt(White 2016). Even
with need-based scholarships, pell grants from the government and opportunities for federal aid,
the prices have dropped drastically and dont meet the elasticity of the growing tuition prices.
Not only does it happen in college collecting the debt, but the job placement after college.
College graduates are met with many potential job offerings, higher than most normalized majors
and has a 71% of alumni getting jobs right out of college in their major(White 2016). However,

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with such a high debt, many artists that dont have a steady pay grade also have to find two jobs
to support themselves in the economy and pay off their debt. Not necessarily bad, but the
increase of stress could lead to unhappy lives and a more pessimistic community. Numerous
solutions have been brought to light because of this, like the differences between B.F.A. and
B.A., and a more plentiful market for aspiring artists and their creations.
One alternate option for art students is going in for a Bachelors of Arts (B.A) other than
the specific Bachelors of Fine Arts degree(B.F.A.). Many are offered through public universities,
and offered at low prices at community colleges across the nation. Some even have the
curriculum that is found in private art schools offered at a small price of tuition(White 2016).
This option has a cost-efficiency, however does not take in the factors of what makes an artist.
Studies from the Association for Independent Colleges of Art and Design, or AICAD, find the
atmosphere of students going for a B.F.A. are more likely to succeed than ones in a B.A..
Deborah Obalil, executive of the association, tells that, I would suggest that there is no
comparable experience to studying at an independant school of art and design, and has a sense
of, community found in studying side by side with other serious artists and designers is
unmatched,(Obalil, 2016 p. 1).
The only solution to this problem would be to incorporate private art schools into public.
While public schools are on the rise of tuition as well, it would be beneficial to lower the costs
tremendously. Art majors are just as important as any regular major, and deserve to have the
benefits of other colleges. Another thing would be that public universities have a better credited
system, and give out more grants and funds than the average fine arts school(White 2016). With
a better system, art students will be less in debt than their average and boost the chances of
students going into artistic majors that they are interested in.

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While tuition prices and debt is a serious problem throughout the future art community,
there is hope for a better funding. While the prices of tuition rises and private fine art schools
become a problem honing in more art students. This generation shouldnt be casted aside from
going with their dream job of being the next Walt Disney because of such prices and take control
of their future. One being to lower the tuition all together but a more realistic approach being to
switch from private to public and make sure that grants and federal aid be more available to
them.

References
Shin, J., & Milton, S. (2008). Student Response to Tuition Increase by Academic Majors:
Empirical Grounds for a Cost-Related Tuition Policy. Higher Education, 55(6), 719-734.
Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/29735217

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Clark, K., & WANG, P. (2011). Stop the Tuition Madness. Money, 40(8), 114-122. Retrieved
from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.uri.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?sid=4520bff0-73bb4d0e-b6c8853916e057f5%40sessionmgr4005&vid=1&hid=4107&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl
2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=64468952&db=afh
Jason C. White(2016). Art Students in Debt: Concerns, Consequences, and Interventions
Retrieved from http://www-tandfonline-com.uri.idm.oclc.org/doi/pdf/10.1080/106
32913.2014.954088
Alden F. Megrew(1950). College Fine Arts Today. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/772991.pdf?_=1463581394087
Debra G. Gordon, Donald L. Hamann(2001). Effective Qualities of Arts Educators: A Survey of
Fine Arts Deans, Department Chairs, and Fine Arts Professor. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/24127037.pdf?_=1463581434363
Jerome J. Hausman(2009). Art Education in Higher Education: A Personal View. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20715491.pdf?_=1463679058287

Steven W. Hemelt, Dave E. Marcotte(2011 December). The Impact of Tuition Increases on

Enrollment at Public Colleges and Universities. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41413066.pdf?_=1463679465097

Hemelt, S. W., & Marcotte, D. E.. (2011). The Impact of Tuition Increases on Enrollment at
Public Colleges and Universities. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 33(4),
435457. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41413066

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