Alabama · Fine and Studio Arts

Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Alabama

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Montevallo are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. University of Alabama in Huntsville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,123, College Scorecard. University of Alabama in Huntsville, University of Montevallo and University of Alabama at Birmingham award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Alabama: 53, 51 and 32 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Alabama colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 296 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Fine and Studio Arts program focuses on the practice and theory of visual arts and design, encompassing various disciplines such as illustration, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This program is ideal for students who are…

Institutions
16
offering CIP 50.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
296
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$25,150
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
9
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,817
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
55%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
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BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,1235364%—$27,000
2University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,8093264%—$25,000
3University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public · Bachelor's degree
$25,1505154%—$26,000
4The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree
$21,8363073%—$25,000
5University of South Alabama
Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree
$20,5272353%—$30,066
6Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree
$18,2232133%—$30,000
7Athens State University
Athens Public · Bachelor's degree Degree completion Small program
$38,00610———
8Troy University
Troy Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$26,917950%—$26,000
9Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$20,8261255%—$24,625

Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Alabama

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville Public
53$35,123
2University of Montevallo
Montevallo Public
51$25,150
3University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham Public
32$30,809
4The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa Public
30$21,836
5University of South Alabama
Mobile Public
23$20,527
6Auburn University at Montgomery
Montgomery Public
21$18,223
7University of North Alabama
Florence Public
20Not reported
8Auburn University
Auburn Public
15Not reported
9Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville Public
12$20,826
10Troy University
Troy Public
9$26,917
Show the other 6 Alabama colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Athens State University (Degree completion)AthensPublic10
Samford UniversityBirminghamPrivate not-for-profit7
Alabama A & M UniversityNormalPublic5
Alabama State UniversityMontgomeryPublic5
University of MobileMobilePrivate not-for-profit2
Spring Hill CollegeMobilePrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.2%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~2,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,560
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive LearningActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWriting

What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Alabama

Jobs in Alabama
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$71,270 avg · 900 jobs
Photographers
$43,480 avg · 530 jobs
Art Directors
$85,210 avg · 210 jobs
Curators
$64,510 avg · 150 jobs
Museum Technicians and Conservators
$41,610 avg · 130 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Alabama.

Which Alabama colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+

University of Alabama in Huntsville (53 graduates a year), University of Montevallo (51 graduates a year) and University of Alabama at Birmingham (32 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Alabama colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.

What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Alabama?+

By graduate earnings, University of Alabama in Huntsville leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,123, College Scorecard. University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Montevallo follow. By degrees awarded, University of Alabama in Huntsville is the largest, with 53 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Alabama in Huntsville tops the list at $35,123. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

What is the focus of the Fine and Studio Arts program?+

The Fine and Studio Arts program focuses on the practice and theory of visual arts and design, encompassing various disciplines such as illustration, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This program is ideal for students who are…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?+

The national job outlook is about -1.2% growth with around 2,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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