Best Art programs in Alabama, ranked by enrollment
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts.
24 schools in Alabama run programs that feed this job, graduating 860 people a year. The job pays a median of $63,540 in Alabama across about 900 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Alabama that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
23 programs in Alabama that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Alabama (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Alabama page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0701In Alabama → | 227 | 26.4% | 11 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0501In Alabama → | 123 | 14.3% | 12 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0401In Alabama → | 121 | 14.1% | 6 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0409In Alabama → | 60 | 7.0% | 4 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0702In Alabama → | 55 | 6.4% | 6 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0301In Alabama → | 48 | 5.6% | 4 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 7 | CIP 13.1312In Alabama → | 46 | 5.3% | 5 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0404In Alabama → | 41 | 4.8% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0602In Alabama → | 24 | 2.8% | 3 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0509In Alabama → | 21 | 2.4% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 11 | CIP 50.1001In Alabama → | 20 | 2.3% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0908In Alabama → | 13 | 1.5% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0999In Alabama → | 13 | 1.5% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0102In Alabama → | 10 | 1.2% | 2 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0903In Alabama → | 10 | 1.2% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 16 | CIP 50.0703In Alabama → | 7 | 0.8% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 17 | CIP 13.1302In Alabama → | 6 | 0.7% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0799In Alabama → | 4 | 0.5% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0706In Alabama → | 3 | 0.3% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0907In Alabama → | 3 | 0.3% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0913In Alabama → | 3 | 0.3% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 22 | CIP 50.0911In Alabama → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 23 | CIP 50.0916In Alabama → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 24 schools in Alabama
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 11 of the 24 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auburn University Auburn, AL Public · 5 feeder programs | 136 | Design and Visual Communications, General | $46,585 | 82% | — | 46% |
| 2 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Public · 7 feeder programs | 118 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | $19,543 | 73% | — | 77% |
| 3 | University of Montevallo Montevallo, AL Public · 2 feeder programs | 73 | Art/Art Studies, General | $25,150 | 54% | — | 54% |
| 4 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL Public · 2 feeder programs | 62 | Art/Art Studies, General | $35,123 | 64% | — | 69% |
| 5 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL Public · 5 feeder programs | 59 | Art/Art Studies, General | $30,809 | 64% | — | 88% |
| 6 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 51 | Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, General | $25,805 | 55% | — | 87% |
| 7 | Samford University Birmingham, AL Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 48 | Graphic Design | $41,323 | 77% | $28,160 | 82% |
| 8 | John C Calhoun State Community College Tanner, AL Public · 2 feeder programs | 45 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 41% | — | — |
| 9 | Troy University Troy, AL Public · 3 feeder programs | 45 | Graphic Design | — | 50% | — | 96% |
| 10 | University of South Alabama Mobile, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 42 | Art/Art Studies, General | $20,527 | 53% | — | 71% |
| 11 | Alabama State University Montgomery, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 35 | Dance, General | — | 30% | — | 98% |
| 12 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 27 | Art/Art Studies, General | $20,826 | 55% | — | 78% |
| 13 | University of Mobile Mobile, AL Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 24 | Voice and Opera | — | 57% | $19,817 | 78% |
| 14 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Art/Art Studies, General | $18,223 | 33% | — | 92% |
| 15 | George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville Hanceville, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 51% | — | — |
| 16 | Athens State University Athens, AL Public · 4 feeder programs | 12 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $38,006 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Spring Hill College Mobile, AL Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 10 | Graphic Design | — | 52% | $14,119 | 77% |
| 18 | Enterprise State Community College Enterprise, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 9 | Digital Arts | — | 42% | — | — |
| 19 | Chattahoochee Valley Community College Phenix City, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 36% | — | — |
| 20 | Alabama A & M University Normal, AL Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 24% | — | 58% |
| 21 | Stillman College Tuscaloosa, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Music Performance, General | — | 25% | $13,151 | 62% |
| 22 | Huntingdon College Montgomery, AL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 4 | Music Performance, General | — | 48% | $21,604 | 69% |
| 23 | Oakwood University Huntsville, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Voice and Opera | — | 45% | $23,870 | 45% |
| 24 | Tuskegee University Tuskegee, AL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Music Performance, General | — | 55% | $33,313 | 49% |
All 24 schools in Alabama
Every school in Alabama with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn | Public | 136 | 5 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | Public | 118 | 7 |
| University of Montevallo | Montevallo | Public | 73 | 2 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville | Public | 62 | 2 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Public | 59 | 5 |
| University of North Alabama | Florence | Public | 51 | 4 |
| Samford University | Birmingham | Private not-for-profit | 48 | 9 |
| John C Calhoun State Community College | Tanner | Public | 45 | 2 |
| Troy University | Troy | Public | 45 | 3 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile | Public | 42 | 4 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery | Public | 35 | 4 |
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville | Public | 27 | 4 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile | Private not-for-profit | 24 | 8 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery | Public | 21 | 1 |
| George C Wallace State Community College - Hanceville | Hanceville | Public | 18 | 1 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Alabama
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Alabama pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Alabama
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary page.
How to become a Art
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Alabama
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1302Art Teacher Education
- 13.1312Music Teacher Education
- 13.1324Drama and Dance Teacher Education
- 50.0101Visual and Performing Arts, General
- 50.0102Digital Arts
- 50.0201Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry
- 50.0301Dance, General
- 50.0302Ballet
- 50.0399Dance, Other
- 50.0401Design and Visual Communications, General
- 50.0404Industrial and Product Design
- 50.0406Commercial Photography
- 50.0407Fashion/Apparel Design
- 50.0409Graphic Design
- 50.0410Illustration
- 50.0501Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- 50.0502Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
- 50.0504Playwriting and Screenwriting
- 50.0505Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
- 50.0506Acting
- 50.0507Directing and Theatrical Production
- 50.0509Musical Theatre
- 50.0510Costume Design
- 50.0511Comedy Writing and Performance
- 50.0512Theatre and Dance
Common questions
Answers for people weighing art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary programs in Alabama.
What degree do you need to become an Art?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Art/Art Studies, General, which awarded 227 degrees in Alabama in 2024-25, 26.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Art?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 23 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Teacher Education and Professional Development, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 860 people a year in Alabama.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Alabama?+
The median is $63,540 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 19.2% below the U.S. median of $78,620. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +1.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 9,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Alabama?+
24 institutions in Alabama reported graduates from at least one of the 23 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Art Professor, Music Professor, Theater Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1121.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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