Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Kentucky
Ranked by graduate earnings
Northern Kentucky University, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. Northern Kentucky University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,448, College Scorecard. University of Louisville, Northern Kentucky University and Western Kentucky University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Kentucky: 71, 51 and 41 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Kentucky colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 360 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 8 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 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,448 | 51 | 52% | — | $25,724 |
| 2 | University of Louisville Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,485 | 71 | 61% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,291 | 41 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,596 | 26 | 50% | — | $27,375 |
| 5 | Murray State University Murray Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,715 | 23 | 61% | — | $24,619 |
| 6 | Morehead State University Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree | $17,301 | 28 | 52% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Berea College Berea Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,036 | 5 | 58% | $5,274 | — |
| 8 | Spalding University Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $14,940 | 1 | 52% | $23,661 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Kentucky
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 | University of Louisville Louisville Public | 71 | $28,485 |
| 2 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights Public | 51 | $31,448 |
| 3 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green Public | 41 | $28,291 |
| 4 | University of Kentucky Lexington Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 5 | Morehead State University Morehead Public | 28 | $17,301 |
| 6 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond Public | 26 | $25,596 |
| 7 | Bellarmine University Louisville Private not-for-profit | 23 | Not reported |
| 8 | Murray State University Murray Public | 23 | $21,715 |
| 9 | Georgetown College Georgetown Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | Centre College Danville Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Kentucky colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asbury University | Wilmore | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| West Kentucky Community and Technical College | Paducah | Public | 6 |
| Berea College | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Thomas More University | Crestview Hills | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Campbellsville University | Campbellsville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | Owensboro | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Transylvania University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Owensboro Community and Technical College | Owensboro | Public | 3 |
| Spalding University | Louisville | Private not-for-profit | 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 Kentucky
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Kentucky.
Which Kentucky colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
University of Louisville (71 graduates a year), Northern Kentucky University (51 graduates a year) and Western Kentucky University (41 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Kentucky colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Kentucky?+
By graduate earnings, Northern Kentucky University leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,448, College Scorecard. University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Louisville is the largest, with 71 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Kentucky has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northern Kentucky University tops the list at $31,448. 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 Kentucky?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Kentucky is $45,520 (median $48,050), across about 60 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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