Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Maryland
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Maryland-College Park, Towson University and University of Maryland-Baltimore County are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Maryland by graduate earnings. University of Maryland-College Park leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,031, College Scorecard. Maryland Institute College of Art, Towson University and University of Maryland-College Park award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Maryland: 143, 138 and 92 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Maryland colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 629 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 6 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 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,031 | 92 | 89% | — | $20,000 |
| 2 | Towson University Towson Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,958 | 138 | 69% | — | $17,978 |
| 3 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,879 | 62 | 70% | — | $24,625 |
| 4 | Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,138 | 143 | 72% | $37,659 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,632 | 36 | 68% | — | $24,239 |
| 6 | Frostburg State University Frostburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,649 | 10 | 50% | — | $24,834 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Maryland
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 | Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore Private not-for-profit | 143 | $21,138 |
| 2 | Towson University Towson Public | 138 | $29,958 |
| 3 | University of Maryland-College Park College Park Public | 92 | $32,031 |
| 4 | University of Maryland-Baltimore County Baltimore Public | 62 | $23,879 |
| 5 | Salisbury University Salisbury Public | 36 | $20,632 |
| 6 | Montgomery College Rockville Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 7 | St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's City Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 8 | Morgan State University Baltimore Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 9 | Bowie State University Bowie Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 10 | Cecil College North East Public | 11 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Maryland colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frostburg State University | Frostburg | Public | 10 |
| McDaniel College | Westminster | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Hood College | Frederick | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Prince George's Community College | Largo | Public | 9 |
| Coppin State University | Baltimore | Public | 7 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Loyola University Maryland | Baltimore | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | Emmitsburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| College of Southern Maryland | La Plata | Public | 1 |
| Washington College | Chestertown | 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 Maryland
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Maryland.
Which Maryland colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
Maryland Institute College of Art (143 graduates a year), Towson University (138 graduates a year) and University of Maryland-College Park (92 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Maryland, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Maryland colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Maryland?+
By graduate earnings, University of Maryland-College Park leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Maryland, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $32,031, College Scorecard. Towson University and University of Maryland-Baltimore County follow. By degrees awarded, Maryland Institute College of Art is the largest, with 143 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Maryland has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Maryland-College Park tops the list at $32,031. 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 Maryland?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Maryland is $67,970 (median $66,180), across about 80 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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