Every five years, the College of Fine Arts participates in the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP), which gives us valuable insight into the educational experiences and professional outcomes of our alumni and allows us to benchmark against our peers, both public and private. 

Since 2008, SNAAP has collected and analyzed data from over 200,000 arts graduates from across North America. More than 300 colleges and universities have participated in the study, and SNAAP data have been used for assessment, curriculum reform, recruitment, benchmarking, alumni engagement, advocacy and more.

The survey asks arts alumni questions about their experience in their program at UT, the skills they gained, what they’re doing now, how much student debt they accrued, how long it took them to find their first job, how satisfied they are in their current job or profession, their salaries, whether they continue to maintain an artistic practice and much more.

Below, we share some highlights from College of Fine Arts alumni who participated in the most recent 2015 SNAAP survey. (We will survey our alumni again in 2020.)

Student Debt


Of all College of Fine Arts alumni, 79% graduated with less than $20,000 in debt and 57% of those graduated with no debt. Nationally 65% graduated with less than $20,000 in debt and 41% of those graduated with no debt.Of recent grads from 2010-2015, 66% of College of Fine Arts alumni graduated with less than $20,000 debt and 44% of those with no debt. Nationally 48% of arts students graduated with less than $20,000 in debt and 33% of those with no debt.

Jobs & Post Graduate Life

80% of all College of Fine Arts graduates report high job satisfaction.40% of all College of Fine Arts graduates have worked in arts administration or management in their professional career.73% of all College of Fine Arts graduates report that they still make art or perform in their personal time.
53% of all College of Fine Arts graduates have taught at some point during their professional career.73% of all College of Fine Arts graduates report that they still make art or perform in their personal time.


Employed soon: College of Fine Arts alumni employment within four months of graduation.
48% of all College of Fine Arts alumni pursued a graduate degree. Of the College of Fine Arts alumni who graduated in the past 5 years, 30% pursued a graduate degree.
College of Fine Arts alumni who pursued graduate degrees.
48% of all College of Fine Arts alumni pursued a graduate degree. Of the College of Fine Arts alumni who graduated in the past 5 years, 30% pursued a graduate degree.
Low employment: College of Fine Arts alumni unemployment rate
There is a 3% unemployment rate among all College of Fine Arts alumni. For College of Fine Arts alumni who graduated in the past 5 years, the unemployment rate is 4%.

Skills Acquired

5% of all College of Fine Arts alumni said UT gave them a broad education. 92% of all College of Fine Arts alumni said their UT education gave them creative thinking and problem-solving skills. 91% of all College of Fine Arts alumni said their UT education helped them develop skills in critical thinking and analysis of information. 90% of all College of Fine Arts alumni said their work improved with feedback from others.

Educational Experience

92% of all College of Fine Arts alumni rated their experience at UT as excellent or good.