Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Illinois by graduate earnings. Illinois State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,967, College Scorecard. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois State University and Northern Illinois University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Illinois: 802, 122 and 75 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 63 Illinois colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 1,666 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 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,967 | 122 | 65% | — | $20,125 |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,285 | 42 | 62% | — | $26,500 |
| 3 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,669 | 47 | 85% | — | $21,356 |
| 4 | DePaul University Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,291 | 20 | 68% | $28,141 | $26,999 |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,795 | 75 | 49% | — | $25,781 |
| 6 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,213 | 73 | 47% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,259 | 53 | 57% | — | $27,280 |
| 8 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,984 | 802 | 67% | $48,998 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,765 | 55 | 52% | $28,087 | $26,000 |
| 10 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,954 | 42 | 62% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Illinois
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 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 802 | $23,984 |
| 2 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 122 | $35,967 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb Public | 75 | $26,795 |
| 4 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 73 | $26,213 |
| 5 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 55 | $22,765 |
| 6 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville Public | 53 | $25,259 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign Public | 47 | $28,669 |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago Public | 42 | $21,954 |
| 9 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale Public | 42 | $33,285 |
| 10 | University of Chicago Chicago Private not-for-profit | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 53 Illinois colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | Public | 18 |
| Governors State University | University Park | Public | 17 |
| Bradley University | Peoria | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | Chicago | Public | 11 |
| Parkland College | Champaign | Public | 11 |
| Saint Xavier University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Knox College | Galesburg | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| North Park University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College | Chicago | Public | 8 |
| College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn | Public | 8 |
| North Central College | Naperville | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| University of Illinois Springfield | Springfield | Public | 8 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Augustana College | Rock Island | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 7 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Rockford University | Rockford | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | Belleville | Public | 6 |
| Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey | Public | 6 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Morton College | Cicero | Public | 6 |
| Concordia University - Chicago | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Elgin Community College | Elgin | Public | 4 |
| Eureka College | Eureka | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Kaskaskia College | Centralia | Public | 4 |
| Monmouth College | Monmouth | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Oakton College | Des Plaines | Public | 4 |
| Principia College | Elsah | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Trinity Christian College | Palos Heights | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Waubonsee Community College | Sugar Grove | Public | 4 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College | Chicago | Public | 3 |
| Benedictine University | Lisle | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lewis University | Romeoville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| McKendree University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Dominican University | River Forest | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| William Rainey Harper College | Palatine | Public | 3 |
| McHenry County College | Crystal Lake | Public | 2 |
| Sauk Valley Community College | Dixon | Public | 2 |
| Blackburn College | Carlinville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Carl Sandburg College | Galesburg | Public | 1 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College | Chicago | Public | 1 |
| Danville Area Community College | Danville | Public | 1 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Kishwaukee College | Malta | Public | 1 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | Springfield | Public | 1 |
| Prairie State College | Chicago Heights | Public | 1 |
| Richland Community College | Decatur | Public | 1 |
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 Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (802 graduates a year), Illinois State University (122 graduates a year) and Northern Illinois University (75 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 63 Illinois colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Illinois?+
By graduate earnings, Illinois State University leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Illinois, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,967, College Scorecard. Southern Illinois University - Carbondale and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign follow. By degrees awarded, School of the Art Institute of Chicago is the largest, with 802 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $35,967. 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 Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Illinois is $60,710 (median $53,850). 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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