The Value of Cutting Arts Programs

Opinion – The MSU Exponent

Currently, Montana State University is operating at a healthy profit, making about $10 million per year with increasing enrollment meaning greater revenue. While promising, this situation is precarious, as at any time an economic decline or act of government could cause MSU expenses to increase. The imminent $23 million budget cut in the Montana university system is an example of this. So, in this case, MSU should strongly consider decreasing the amount of funding it provides to arts programs before cutting other programs or increasing tuition. While a philosophical belief of whether money or culture is more important to societal development may ultimately decide a person’s view on this issue, there are some logical reasons for taking this course of action.
The primary argument revolves around projected earnings post-graduation. According to MSU survey data, students who graduate with arts and architecture majors earn an average of $34,549 per year in entry-level positions, while the average of all other majors’ entry level positions provide $42,231 per year in earnings. Although career earnings are extremely variable, simulations also show that average career earnings for arts majors are nearly uniformly lower than career earnings for business, engineering and other majors. Given that our society runs on money, it can be said that non-arts majors give graduates an advantage when entering and living in the real world.
With this in mind, MSU should consider the financial well-being of their students when applying budget cuts. By restricting some programs, ideally students will turn toward other, more lucrative majors, improving their quality of life after graduation. It may not have been their first preference, but the stability will be worth it. MSU would also be wise to channel funds into their better performing majors for the long term health of cultural programs. By ensuring the economy has enough skilled workers to fuel it, society will have enough excess money ...


Read more