Best Art programs in Iowa, 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.
38 schools in Iowa run programs that feed this job, graduating 969 people a year. The job pays a median of $77,740 in Iowa across about 910 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Iowa that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
32 programs in Iowa that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Iowa (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 Iowa page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0701In Iowa → | 161 | 16.6% | 15 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0409In Iowa → | 159 | 16.4% | 14 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 3 | CIP 13.1312In Iowa → | 78 | 8.0% | 14 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0601In Iowa → | 64 | 6.6% | 2 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0401In Iowa → | 57 | 5.9% | 4 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0501In Iowa → | 46 | 4.7% | 12 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 7 | CIP 13.1302In Iowa → | 44 | 4.5% | 5 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0406In Iowa → | 44 | 4.5% | 3 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0702In Iowa → | 37 | 3.8% | 7 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0504In Iowa → | 32 | 3.3% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0102In Iowa → | 30 | 3.1% | 3 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0602In Iowa → | 28 | 2.9% | 4 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0404In Iowa → | 25 | 2.6% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0903In Iowa → | 25 | 2.6% | 9 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0506In Iowa → | 23 | 2.4% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 16 | CIP 50.0703In Iowa → | 21 | 2.2% | 6 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0301In Iowa → | 18 | 1.9% | 1 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0912In Iowa → | 16 | 1.7% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0599In Iowa → | 12 | 1.2% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0101In Iowa → | 11 | 1.1% | 2 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0502In Iowa → | 8 | 0.8% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 22 | CIP 50.0913In Iowa → | 5 | 0.5% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 23 | Visual and Performing Arts, Othermain feeder CIP 50.9999In Iowa → | 4 | 0.4% | 3 | $24,229 | $25,000 |
| 24 | CIP 50.0509In Iowa → | 4 | 0.4% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 25 | CIP 50.0705In Iowa → | 3 | 0.3% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 26 | CIP 50.0708In Iowa → | 3 | 0.3% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 27 | CIP 50.0799In Iowa → | 3 | 0.3% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 28 | CIP 50.0904In Iowa → | 3 | 0.3% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 29 | CIP 50.0906In Iowa → | 2 | 0.2% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 30 | CIP 50.0507In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 31 | CIP 50.0512In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 32 | CIP 50.0907In Iowa → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 25 schools in Iowa
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 10 of the 38 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · 14 feeder programs | 270 | Art/Art Studies, General | $28,008 | 75% | — | 84% |
| 2 | Iowa State University Ames, IA Public · 4 feeder programs | 150 | Graphic Design | $37,565 | 75% | — | 89% |
| 3 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · 13 feeder programs | 119 | Art Teacher Education | $43,602 | 68% | — | 93% |
| 4 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA Public · 4 feeder programs | 65 | Commercial Photography | $25,265 | 39% | — | — |
| 5 | Luther College Decorah, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 36 | Music Pedagogy | $45,367 | 71% | $22,827 | 72% |
| 6 | Drake University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 33 | Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | $19,613 | 74% | $28,855 | 64% |
| 7 | Maharishi International University Fairfield, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 27 | Playwriting and Screenwriting | — | 50% | $19,927 | 96% |
| 8 | Hawkeye Community College Waterloo, IA Public · 3 feeder programs | 23 | Graphic Design | — | 43% | — | — |
| 9 | Cornell College Mount Vernon, IA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 20 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 62% | $23,073 | 80% |
| 10 | Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA Public · 2 feeder programs | 19 | Digital Arts | — | 42% | — | — |
| 11 | Wartburg College Waverly, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 18 | Music Teacher Education | $45,677 | 64% | $20,228 | 76% |
| 12 | Saint Ambrose University Davenport, IA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 17 | Music Teacher Education | — | 61% | $21,680 | 77% |
| 13 | Kirkwood Community College Cedar Rapids, IA Public · 2 feeder programs | 14 | Digital Arts | — | 43% | — | — |
| 14 | Simpson College Indianola, IA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 14 | Graphic Design | — | 63% | $20,710 | 86% |
| 15 | Clarke University Dubuque, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 11 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 56% | $21,417 | 72% |
| 16 | William Penn University Oskaloosa, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 11 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | — | 33% | $21,533 | 52% |
| 17 | Coe College Cedar Rapids, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 10 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 66% | $18,153 | 64% |
| 18 | Morningside University Sioux City, IA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 10 | Music Teacher Education | $45,552 | 50% | $22,816 | 71% |
| 19 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 50% | — | — |
| 20 | Grinnell College Grinnell, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 9 | Art History, Criticism and Conservation | $20,111 | 88% | $14,470 | 15% |
| 21 | Northwestern College Orange City, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 9 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | — | 66% | $22,419 | 80% |
| 22 | Central College Pella, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 8 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 66% | $19,732 | 86% |
| 23 | Dordt University Sioux Center, IA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 8 | Graphic Design | — | 70% | $24,569 | 68% |
| 24 | Grand View University Des Moines, IA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 8 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 54% | $20,840 | 99% |
| 25 | Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar, IA Public · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Graphic Design | — | 51% | — | — |
All 38 schools in Iowa
Every school in Iowa 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 Iowa | Iowa City | Public | 270 | 14 |
| Iowa State University | Ames | Public | 150 | 4 |
| University of Northern Iowa | Cedar Falls | Public | 119 | 13 |
| Des Moines Area Community College | Ankeny | Public | 65 | 4 |
| Luther College | Decorah | Private not-for-profit | 36 | 4 |
| Drake University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 33 | 9 |
| Maharishi International University | Fairfield | Private not-for-profit | 27 | 3 |
| Hawkeye Community College | Waterloo | Public | 23 | 3 |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 20 | 5 |
| Iowa Central Community College | Fort Dodge | Public | 19 | 2 |
| Wartburg College | Waverly | Private not-for-profit | 18 | 3 |
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | Private not-for-profit | 17 | 5 |
| Kirkwood Community College | Cedar Rapids | Public | 14 | 2 |
| Simpson College | Indianola | Private not-for-profit | 14 | 5 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 11 | 4 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Iowa
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Iowa pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Iowa
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 Iowa
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 Iowa.
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 161 degrees in Iowa in 2024-25, 16.6% 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 32 programs to this occupation. The largest are Design and Applied Arts, Fine and Studio Arts, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Teacher Education and Professional Development, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 969 people a year in Iowa.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Iowa?+
The median is $77,740 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 1.1% 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 Iowa?+
38 institutions in Iowa reported graduates from at least one of the 32 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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