Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Southern California, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and California State University - East Bay are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in California by graduate earnings. University of Southern California leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,161, College Scorecard. California State University - Fullerton, California State University - Long Beach and California State University - Northridge award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in California: 495, 457 and 356 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 179 California colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 7,815 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…
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | 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 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,006 | 44 | 86% | — | $19,198 |
| 3 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,220 | 121 | 48% | — | $16,625 |
| 4 | Sonoma State University Rohnert Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,035 | 24 | 58% | — | $18,460 |
| 5 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,210 | 52 | 79% | $36,488 | $23,600 |
| 6 | Biola University La Mirada Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,372 | 21 | 68% | $26,727 | $27,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,359 | 356 | 57% | — | $15,000 |
| 8 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,606 | 115 | 50% | — | $18,511 |
| 9 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,538 | 213 | 53% | — | $19,087 |
| 10 | San Diego State University San Diego Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,186 | 335 | 76% | — | $9,899 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gemological Institute of America-Carlsbad Carlsbad Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $36,639 | 265 | 91% | $30,331 | $8,233 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in California
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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 495 | $22,839 |
| 2 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 457 | $21,493 |
| 3 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 356 | $25,359 |
| 4 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 335 | $23,186 |
| 5 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 227 | Not reported |
| 6 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 213 | $24,538 |
| 7 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica Public | 184 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 139 | $21,106 |
| 9 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 122 | $21,220 |
| 10 | California State University - East Bay Hayward Public | 121 | $33,220 |
ShowHide the other 169 California colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
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 California colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
California State University - Fullerton (495 graduates a year), California State University - Long Beach (457 graduates a year) and California State University - Northridge (356 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 179 California colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in California?+
By graduate earnings, University of Southern California leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,161, College Scorecard. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo and California State University - East Bay follow. By degrees awarded, California State University - Fullerton is the largest, with 495 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Southern California tops the list at $50,161. 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 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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