Arkansas · Fine and Studio Arts

Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Arkansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,733, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas, University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas at Little Rock award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Arkansas: 68, 30 and 29 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Arkansas colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 192 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
192
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,604
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$21,322
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
52%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
$41,090
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 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 Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree
$30,7332942%—$25,402
2University of Central Arkansas
Conway Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,6043054%—$25,351
3University of Arkansas
Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree
$24,9706871%—$21,777

Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Arkansas

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 Arkansas
Fayetteville Public
68$24,970
2University of Central Arkansas
Conway Public
30$28,604
3University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock Public
29$30,733
4Arkansas State University
Jonesboro Public
12Not reported
5University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff Public
11Not reported
6Hendrix College
Conway Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
7Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia Public
6Not reported
8University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith Public
6Not reported
9University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello Public
4Not reported
10Henderson State University
Arkadelphia Public
4Not reported
Show the other 6 Arkansas colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
University of the OzarksClarksvillePrivate not-for-profit4
Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellvillePublic3
North Arkansas CollegeHarrisonPublic3
Lyon CollegeBatesvillePrivate not-for-profit2
Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphiaPrivate not-for-profit2
Harding UniversitySearcyPrivate 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 Arkansas

Jobs in Arkansas
40
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$41,090
median $32,340
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,950 avg · 360 jobs
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
$42,870 avg · 270 jobs
Art Directors
$82,350 avg · 240 jobs
Photographers
$34,700 avg · 240 jobs
Museum Technicians and Conservators
$43,100 avg · 110 jobs

Common questions

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

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

University of Arkansas (68 graduates a year), University of Central Arkansas (30 graduates a year) and University of Arkansas at Little Rock (29 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Arkansas colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.

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

By graduate earnings, University of Arkansas at Little Rock leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,733, College Scorecard. University of Central Arkansas and University of Arkansas follow. By degrees awarded, University of Arkansas is the largest, with 68 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Arkansas at Little Rock tops the list at $30,733. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Arkansas?+

The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Arkansas is $41,090 (median $32,340), across about 40 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

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.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card