Best Art programs in Illinois, 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.
80 schools in Illinois run programs that feed this job, graduating 5,293 people a year. The job pays a median of $62,960 in Illinois across about 4,170 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Illinois that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
53 programs in Illinois that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Illinois (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 Illinois page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0702In Illinois → | 1,154 | 21.8% | 36 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0602In Illinois → | 608 | 11.5% | 7 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0409In Illinois → | 491 | 9.3% | 29 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0701In Illinois → | 408 | 7.7% | 32 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0501In Illinois → | 406 | 7.7% | 25 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0903In Illinois → | 246 | 4.6% | 12 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 7 | CIP 13.1312In Illinois → | 243 | 4.6% | 22 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0506In Illinois → | 151 | 2.9% | 8 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0401In Illinois → | 111 | 2.1% | 11 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0509In Illinois → | 109 | 2.1% | 7 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0407In Illinois → | 106 | 2.0% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 12 | CIP 13.1302In Illinois → | 105 | 2.0% | 15 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 13 | CIP 50.1003In Illinois → | 98 | 1.9% | 10 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0703In Illinois → | 94 | 1.8% | 12 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 15 | CIP 50.1001In Illinois → | 91 | 1.7% | 4 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 16 | CIP 50.0605In Illinois → | 82 | 1.5% | 5 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0502In Illinois → | 61 | 1.2% | 8 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0410In Illinois → | 57 | 1.1% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0301In Illinois → | 54 | 1.0% | 5 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0999In Illinois → | 53 | 1.0% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0911In Illinois → | 52 | 1.0% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 22 | CIP 50.1002In Illinois → | 51 | 1.0% | 3 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 23 | CIP 50.0101In Illinois → | 42 | 0.8% | 6 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 24 | CIP 50.0908In Illinois → | 39 | 0.7% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 25 | CIP 50.0910In Illinois → | 38 | 0.7% | 7 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 26 | CIP 50.0404In Illinois → | 37 | 0.7% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 27 | CIP 50.0511In Illinois → | 35 | 0.7% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 28 | CIP 50.0504In Illinois → | 33 | 0.6% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 29 | CIP 50.0913In Illinois → | 33 | 0.6% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 30 | CIP 50.0904In Illinois → | 31 | 0.6% | 9 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 31 | CIP 50.0601In Illinois → | 27 | 0.5% | 3 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 32 | CIP 50.0102In Illinois → | 26 | 0.5% | 3 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 33 | CIP 50.0907In Illinois → | 18 | 0.3% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 34 | Visual and Performing Arts, Othermain feeder CIP 50.9999In Illinois → | 17 | 0.3% | 3 | $24,229 | $25,000 |
| 35 | CIP 50.0507In Illinois → | 16 | 0.3% | 4 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 36 | CIP 50.0512In Illinois → | 12 | 0.2% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 37 | CIP 50.0607In Illinois → | 10 | 0.2% | 3 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 38 | CIP 50.0706In Illinois → | 7 | 0.1% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 39 | CIP 50.0406In Illinois → | 6 | 0.1% | 4 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 40 | CIP 50.0505In Illinois → | 5 | 0.1% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 41 | CIP 50.0905In Illinois → | 5 | 0.1% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 42 | CIP 50.0906In Illinois → | 5 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 43 | CIP 50.0912In Illinois → | 4 | 0.1% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 44 | CIP 50.0599In Illinois → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 45 | CIP 50.0914In Illinois → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 46 | CIP 50.0915In Illinois → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 47 | CIP 50.0916In Illinois → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 48 | CIP 13.1324In Illinois → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 49 | CIP 50.0705In Illinois → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 50 | CIP 50.0708In Illinois → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 51 | CIP 50.0711In Illinois → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 52 | CIP 50.1004In Illinois → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 53 | CIP 50.1101In Illinois → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | — | — |
Top 25 schools in Illinois
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 22 of the 80 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia College Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 23 feeder programs | 900 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $23,905 | 52% | $28,087 | 89% |
| 2 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 840 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $23,984 | 67% | $48,998 | 77% |
| 3 | DePaul University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 22 feeder programs | 661 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $26,164 | 68% | $28,141 | 76% |
| 4 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · 19 feeder programs | 396 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | $19,245 | 95% | $14,799 | 8% |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · 14 feeder programs | 278 | Graphic Design | $34,670 | 85% | — | 42% |
| 6 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · 5 feeder programs | 241 | Art/Art Studies, General | $35,967 | 65% | — | 88% |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL Public · 5 feeder programs | 193 | Music Performance, General | $42,830 | 49% | — | 70% |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Public · 13 feeder programs | 181 | Graphic Design | $34,377 | 62% | — | 77% |
| 9 | Roosevelt University Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 15 feeder programs | 144 | Musical Theatre | $21,001 | 35% | $21,085 | 97% |
| 10 | Elmhurst University Elmhurst, IL Private not-for-profit · 12 feeder programs | 88 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 70% | $20,794 | 74% |
| 11 | Millikin University Decatur, IL Private not-for-profit · 17 feeder programs | 82 | Musical Theatre | $24,013 | 55% | $8,373 | 67% |
| 12 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 79 | Art/Art Studies, General | $26,213 | 47% | — | 65% |
| 13 | Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 70 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | — | 73% | $33,454 | 82% |
| 14 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 67 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $33,285 | 62% | — | 87% |
| 15 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL Public · 4 feeder programs | 66 | Art/Art Studies, General | $25,259 | 57% | — | 97% |
| 16 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, IL Public · 3 feeder programs | 64 | Design and Visual Communications, General | $31,463 | 25% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 55 | Art History, Criticism and Conservation | — | 96% | $13,333 | 4% |
| 18 | VanderCook College of Music Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 51 | Music Teacher Education | $43,100 | 67% | $18,033 | 89% |
| 19 | Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Public · 5 feeder programs | 47 | Music Performance, General | $32,666 | 45% | — | 71% |
| 20 | North Central College Naperville, IL Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 45 | Graphic Design | $28,037 | 64% | $20,052 | 77% |
| 21 | Augustana College Rock Island, IL Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 41 | Graphic Design | — | 73% | $14,960 | 63% |
| 22 | Bradley University Peoria, IL Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 41 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 76% | $21,768 | 77% |
| 23 | Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 37 | Graphic Design | — | 21% | — | — |
| 24 | Northeastern Illinois University Chicago, IL Public · 2 feeder programs | 33 | Graphic Design | — | 22% | — | 75% |
| 25 | Wheaton College Wheaton, IL Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 33 | Art/Art Studies, General | $23,202 | 85% | $23,461 | 87% |
All 80 schools in Illinois
Every school in Illinois 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia College Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 900 | 23 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 840 | 5 |
| DePaul University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 661 | 22 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston | Private not-for-profit | 396 | 19 |
| University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign | Champaign | Public | 278 | 14 |
| Illinois State University | Normal | Public | 241 | 5 |
| Northern Illinois University | Dekalb | Public | 193 | 5 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago | Public | 181 | 13 |
| Roosevelt University | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 144 | 15 |
| Elmhurst University | Elmhurst | Private not-for-profit | 88 | 12 |
| Millikin University | Decatur | Private not-for-profit | 82 | 17 |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | Public | 79 | 2 |
| Loyola University Chicago | Chicago | Private not-for-profit | 70 | 7 |
| Southern Illinois University - Carbondale | Carbondale | Public | 67 | 4 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Public | 66 | 4 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Illinois
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Illinois pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Illinois
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 Illinois
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 Illinois.
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 Fine/Studio Arts, General, which awarded 1,154 degrees in Illinois in 2024-25, 21.8% 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 53 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Design and Applied Arts, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, plus 7 more. Together they graduate about 5,293 people a year in Illinois.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Illinois?+
The median is $62,960 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 19.9% 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 Illinois?+
80 institutions in Illinois reported graduates from at least one of the 53 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
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