When Debt Deters: Student Loans as a Predictor of Education-Job Match Among Arts Bachelor's Graduates.

This article examines how undergraduate student loan debt influences education-job match—defined as the alignment between one’s field of study and occupation—among U.S. arts bachelor's graduates, using data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP). Findings indicate that arts graduates who incurred more than US$10,000 in student loans are significantly less likely to enter arts careers compared to those with no loans, even after controlling for demographic, educational, and institutional factors. The study also highlights demographic disparities, noting that women, transgender or other gender graduates, and first-generation college students have lower odds of entering arts jobs, while multiracial graduates show higher odds relative to White graduates. These results suggest that rising student debt may restrict access to arts careers for financially dependent and underrepresented groups, raising concerns about diversity and equity within the arts workforce. The authors recommend policy and counseling interventions to reduce financial barriers and better support arts-interested students in navigating career pathways.