Every year, tens of thousands of students in the United States begin their postsecondary education with the intention of becoming artists. Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) research has focused greatly on these students, paying particular attention to their educational experiences and careers. However, not every arts graduate intends on becoming an artist. SNAAP asks arts graduates whether they intended to become artists when they began their undergraduate studies. Notably, more recent college graduates are increasingly likely to say they never intended to become artists. Based on analyses conducted by Alexandre Frenette and Rachel Skaggs, this DataBrief explores three overlapping explanations for this rise: artistic identity, hypo-specialization, and reluctant or accidental arts graduates.