Best institutions to study Fine and Studio Arts in California
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…
Top 10 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,161 | 59 | 92% | $26,873 | $21,125 |
| 2 | Gemological Institute of America - Carlsbad Carlsbad Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $36,639 | 265 | 91% | $30,331 | $8,233 |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,006 | 44 | 86% | — | $19,198 |
| 4 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,220 | 121 | 48% | — | $16,625 |
| 5 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,035 | 24 | 58% | — | $18,460 |
| 6 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,210 | 52 | 79% | $36,488 | $23,600 |
| 7 | Biola University La Mirada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,372 | 21 | 68% | $26,727 | $27,000 |
| 8 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,359 | 356 | 57% | — | $15,000 |
| 9 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,606 | 115 | 50% | — | $18,511 |
| 10 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,538 | 213 | 53% | — | $19,087 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).
Top skills
What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in California.
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), University of Southern California tops the list at $50,161. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in California is $104,570 (median $58,240), across about 2,560 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.
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