Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Minnesota
Ranked by graduate earnings
Minnesota State University - Mankato, St Olaf College and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Minnesota by graduate earnings. Minnesota State University - Mankato leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,717, College Scorecard. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and St Olaf College award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Minnesota: 83, 41 and 22 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 39 Minnesota colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 388 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 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,717 | 20 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,870 | 22 | 84% | $18,124 | $25,000 |
| 3 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,192 | 83 | 85% | — | $23,956 |
| 4 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $14,829 | 41 | 51% | $24,998 | $30,250 |
| 5 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,521 | 10 | 57% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $30,051 | 8 | 40% | — | $31,000 |
| 7 | Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,986 | 3 | 61% | $23,425 | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,660 | 12 | 65% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Minnesota
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 Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis Public | 83 | $20,192 |
| 2 | Minneapolis College of Art and Design Minneapolis Private not-for-profit | 41 | $14,829 |
| 3 | St Olaf College Northfield Private not-for-profit | 22 | $26,870 |
| 4 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato Public | 20 | $38,717 |
| 5 | Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Public | 18 | Not reported |
| 6 | Winona State University Winona Public | 15 | Not reported |
| 7 | Macalester College Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 8 | University of Minnesota-Duluth Duluth Public | 12 | $25,660 |
| 9 | College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul Private not-for-profit | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 29 Minnesota colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
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 Minnesota
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Minnesota.
Which Minnesota colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (83 graduates a year), Minneapolis College of Art and Design (41 graduates a year) and St Olaf College (22 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Minnesota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 39 Minnesota colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Minnesota?+
By graduate earnings, Minnesota State University - Mankato leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Minnesota, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,717, College Scorecard. St Olaf College and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities follow. By degrees awarded, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is the largest, with 83 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Minnesota has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Minnesota State University - Mankato tops the list at $38,717. 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 Minnesota?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Minnesota is $68,540 (median $61,730). 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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