Kansas · Fine and Studio Arts

Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Kansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University and Wichita State University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Kansas by graduate earnings. Fort Hays State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,909, College Scorecard. Fort Hays State University, University of Kansas and Kansas State University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Kansas: 47, 46 and 35 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Kansas colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 208 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…

Institutions
18
offering CIP 50.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
208
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$27,518
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
5
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,730
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
49%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
$35,120
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Fort Hays State University
Hays Public · Bachelor's degree
$31,9094748%—$22,937
2Kansas State University
Manhattan Public · Bachelor's degree
$28,2183571%—$27,000
3Wichita State University
Wichita Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,5182551%—$28,150
4University of Kansas
Lawrence Public · Bachelor's degree
$16,6294669%—$22,361
5Emporia State University
Emporia Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$19,2761556%—$25,129

Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Kansas

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Fort Hays State University
Hays Public
47$31,909
2University of Kansas
Lawrence Public
46$16,629
3Kansas State University
Manhattan Public
35$28,218
4Wichita State University
Wichita Public
25$27,518
5Emporia State University
Emporia Public
15$19,276
6Washburn University
Topeka Public
14Not reported
7Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg Public
8Not reported
8Benedictine College
Atchison Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
9Bethany College
Lindsborg Private not-for-profit
3Not reported
10Dodge City Community College
Dodge City Public
2Not reported
Show the other 8 Kansas colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Friends UniversityWichitaPrivate not-for-profit2
Baker UniversityBaldwin CityPrivate not-for-profit1
Bethel College - North NewtonNorth NewtonPrivate not-for-profit1
Butler Community CollegeEl DoradoPublic1
Newman UniversityWichitaPrivate not-for-profit1
University of Saint MaryLeavenworthPrivate not-for-profit1
Sterling CollegeSterlingPrivate not-for-profit1
Tabor CollegeHillsboroPrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.2%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~2,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,560
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive LearningActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWriting

What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Kansas

Jobs in Kansas
40
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$35,120
median $25,830
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$75,220 avg · 640 jobs
Photographers
$44,120 avg · 300 jobs
Museum Technicians and Conservators
$47,280 avg · 130 jobs
Curators
$61,890 avg · 120 jobs
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
$56,210 avg · 110 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Kansas.

Which Kansas colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+

Fort Hays State University (47 graduates a year), University of Kansas (46 graduates a year) and Kansas State University (35 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Kansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Kansas colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.

What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Kansas?+

By graduate earnings, Fort Hays State University leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Kansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,909, College Scorecard. Kansas State University and Wichita State University follow. By degrees awarded, Fort Hays State University is the largest, with 47 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Kansas has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Fort Hays State University tops the list at $31,909. 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 Kansas?+

The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Kansas is $35,120 (median $25,830), across about 40 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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