Best Art programs in Arkansas, 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.
25 schools in Arkansas run programs that feed this job, graduating 771 people a year. The job pays a median of $60,650 in Arkansas across about 360 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Arkansas that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
27 programs in Arkansas that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Arkansas (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 Arkansas page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0701In Arkansas → | 133 | 17.3% | 11 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0409In Arkansas → | 115 | 14.9% | 8 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 3 | CIP 13.1312In Arkansas → | 89 | 11.5% | 9 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0903In Arkansas → | 77 | 10.0% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0501In Arkansas → | 55 | 7.1% | 11 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0702In Arkansas → | 48 | 6.2% | 9 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 7 | CIP 50.0602In Arkansas → | 46 | 6.0% | 4 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0401In Arkansas → | 40 | 5.2% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0102In Arkansas → | 34 | 4.4% | 2 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0101In Arkansas → | 24 | 3.1% | 3 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 11 | CIP 13.1302In Arkansas → | 23 | 3.0% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 12 | Visual and Performing Arts, Othermain feeder CIP 50.9999In Arkansas → | 17 | 2.2% | 2 | $24,229 | $25,000 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0703In Arkansas → | 11 | 1.4% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0410In Arkansas → | 10 | 1.3% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0910In Arkansas → | 8 | 1.0% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 16 | CIP 50.0404In Arkansas → | 6 | 0.8% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0601In Arkansas → | 6 | 0.8% | 1 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0605In Arkansas → | 6 | 0.8% | 2 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0509In Arkansas → | 5 | 0.6% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 20 | CIP 50.1002In Arkansas → | 5 | 0.6% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 21 | CIP 13.1324In Arkansas → | 3 | 0.4% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 22 | CIP 50.1003In Arkansas → | 3 | 0.4% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 23 | CIP 50.0502In Arkansas → | 2 | 0.3% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 24 | CIP 50.1001In Arkansas → | 2 | 0.3% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 25 | CIP 50.0201In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,027 | $27,000 |
| 26 | CIP 50.0506In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 27 | CIP 50.0908In Arkansas → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 25 schools in Arkansas
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 6 of the 25 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · 10 feeder programs | 190 | Art/Art Studies, General | $24,970 | 71% | — | 74% |
| 2 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR Public · 5 feeder programs | 121 | Music Performance, General | $36,465 | 54% | — | 89% |
| 3 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR Public · 6 feeder programs | 58 | Graphic Design | $20,285 | 49% | — | 96% |
| 4 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR Public · 7 feeder programs | 43 | Art/Art Studies, General | $30,733 | 42% | — | 59% |
| 5 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR Public · 5 feeder programs | 39 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 55% | — | 82% |
| 6 | National Park College Hot Springs, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 33 | Digital Arts | — | 35% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR Public · 4 feeder programs | 33 | Graphic Design | — | 38% | — | 80% |
| 8 | Harding University Searcy, AR Private not-for-profit · 11 feeder programs | 32 | Graphic Design | $35,582 | 69% | $19,423 | 71% |
| 9 | John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 32 | Graphic Design | $24,893 | 72% | $20,325 | 76% |
| 10 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR Public · 2 feeder programs | 32 | Graphic Design | — | 31% | — | — |
| 11 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 31 | Graphic Design | — | 61% | $21,322 | 68% |
| 12 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR Public · 2 feeder programs | 22 | Visual and Performing Arts, Other | — | 49% | — | 75% |
| 13 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR Public · 3 feeder programs | 16 | Jazz/Jazz Studies | — | 49% | — | — |
| 14 | Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 15 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 42% | — | — |
| 15 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR Public · 4 feeder programs | 14 | Music Performance, General | — | 37% | — | — |
| 16 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 40% | — | 41% |
| 17 | Hendrix College Conway, AR Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 9 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 72% | $22,415 | 56% |
| 18 | South Arkansas College El Dorado, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 9 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | — | 30% | — | — |
| 19 | Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 62% | — | — |
| 20 | University of the Ozarks Clarksville, AR Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 6 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 51% | $13,608 | 60% |
| 21 | Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Graphic Design | — | 44% | — | — |
| 22 | Lyon College Batesville, AR Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 5 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | — | 47% | $22,199 | 63% |
| 23 | North Arkansas College Harrison, AR Public · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 42% | — | — |
| 24 | Philander Smith University Little Rock, AR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 30% | $16,387 | — |
| 25 | Central Baptist College Conway, AR Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Music Teacher Education | — | 34% | $16,728 | 63% |
All 25 schools in Arkansas
Every school in Arkansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville | Public | 190 | 10 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway | Public | 121 | 5 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville | Public | 58 | 6 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock | Public | 43 | 7 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Public | 39 | 5 |
| National Park College | Hot Springs | Public | 33 | 1 |
| University of Arkansas - Fort Smith | Fort Smith | Public | 33 | 4 |
| Harding University | Searcy | Private not-for-profit | 32 | 11 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs | Private not-for-profit | 32 | 4 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Bentonville | Public | 32 | 2 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 31 | 8 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia | Public | 22 | 2 |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | Monticello | Public | 16 | 3 |
| Arkansas State University - Beebe | Beebe | Public | 15 | 1 |
| Henderson State University | Arkadelphia | Public | 14 | 4 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Arkansas
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Arkansas pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
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 Arkansas
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 Arkansas.
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 133 degrees in Arkansas in 2024-25, 17.3% 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 27 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Music, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 771 people a year in Arkansas.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Arkansas?+
The median is $60,650 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 22.9% 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 Arkansas?+
25 institutions in Arkansas reported graduates from at least one of the 27 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
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