
The familiar four- and six-year graduation rates used to compare bachelor's-degree colleges are not an appropriate measure of New York Academy of Art's MFA. Those measures track specified cohorts of first-time undergraduates, while the academy is a graduate art school.
A more relevant completion question is what proportion of MFA entrants finish the degree within its expected time frame. Applicants can also ask how leaves of absence, part-time enrollment, and thesis requirements affect time to degree. These details are more informative for planning than an undergraduate graduation-rate comparison.
An MFA from New York Academy of Art should not be evaluated as a promise of a particular salary. Artists may combine sales, commissions, teaching, freelance assignments, and other employment, so a single earnings figure would capture only part of many graduates' working lives.
When comparing any published earnings statistic, check whether it covers MFA graduates specifically, when income was measured, whether the figure is a median or an average, and whether it includes people who did not respond to a survey. Exhibition activity and alumni profiles can show kinds of work graduates pursue, but they are not substitutes for verified employment or income outcomes.
MASTER’S Degree
Visual and Performing Arts
Data last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.