Best Art programs in Missouri, 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.
46 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,681 people a year. The job pays a median of $75,960 in Missouri across about 1,450 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Missouri that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
47 programs in Missouri that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Missouri (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 Missouri page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0409In Missouri → | 137 | 8.1% | 14 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0501In Missouri → | 131 | 7.8% | 20 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0702In Missouri → | 129 | 7.7% | 14 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0401In Missouri → | 127 | 7.6% | 5 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0701In Missouri → | 120 | 7.1% | 13 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0602In Missouri → | 118 | 7.0% | 7 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 7 | CIP 50.0903In Missouri → | 99 | 5.9% | 9 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0101In Missouri → | 98 | 5.8% | 3 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0703In Missouri → | 92 | 5.5% | 7 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 10 | CIP 13.1312In Missouri → | 88 | 5.2% | 16 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0102In Missouri → | 55 | 3.3% | 4 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0601In Missouri → | 40 | 2.4% | 4 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0410In Missouri → | 39 | 2.3% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0504In Missouri → | 37 | 2.2% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0509In Missouri → | 37 | 2.2% | 6 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 16 | CIP 50.0708In Missouri → | 36 | 2.1% | 4 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0301In Missouri → | 27 | 1.6% | 4 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0706In Missouri → | 26 | 1.5% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 19 | CIP 13.1302In Missouri → | 24 | 1.4% | 6 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0407In Missouri → | 24 | 1.4% | 3 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0799In Missouri → | 22 | 1.3% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 22 | CIP 50.0605In Missouri → | 17 | 1.0% | 4 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 23 | CIP 50.0711In Missouri → | 15 | 0.9% | 3 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 24 | CIP 50.0904In Missouri → | 13 | 0.8% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 25 | CIP 50.0506In Missouri → | 12 | 0.7% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 26 | CIP 50.0710In Missouri → | 11 | 0.7% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 27 | CIP 50.1001In Missouri → | 11 | 0.7% | 2 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 28 | CIP 50.0599In Missouri → | 10 | 0.6% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 29 | CIP 50.0712In Missouri → | 10 | 0.6% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 30 | CIP 50.0502In Missouri → | 8 | 0.5% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 31 | CIP 50.0510In Missouri → | 7 | 0.4% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 32 | CIP 50.0912In Missouri → | 7 | 0.4% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 33 | CIP 50.1003In Missouri → | 7 | 0.4% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 34 | CIP 13.1324In Missouri → | 5 | 0.3% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 35 | CIP 50.0709In Missouri → | 5 | 0.3% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 36 | CIP 50.0910In Missouri → | 5 | 0.3% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 37 | CIP 50.0507In Missouri → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 38 | CIP 50.0906In Missouri → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 39 | CIP 50.0913In Missouri → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 40 | CIP 50.0999In Missouri → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 41 | CIP 50.1099In Missouri → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 42 | CIP 50.0607In Missouri → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 43 | CIP 50.0908In Missouri → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 44 | CIP 50.1002In Missouri → | 3 | 0.2% | 2 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 45 | CIP 50.0404In Missouri → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 46 | CIP 50.0902In Missouri → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 47 | CIP 50.0907In Missouri → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 25 schools in Missouri
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 18 of the 46 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 14 feeder programs | 256 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | $22,369 | 58% | — | 91% |
| 2 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · 15 feeder programs | 178 | Music Performance, General | $22,315 | 55% | — | 72% |
| 3 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 11 feeder programs | 155 | Digital Arts | $29,775 | 75% | — | 78% |
| 4 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 134 | Design and Visual Communications, General | $33,615 | 94% | $14,126 | 12% |
| 5 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 19 feeder programs | 131 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $19,071 | 64% | $25,090 | 86% |
| 6 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · 12 feeder programs | 122 | Art History, Criticism and Conservation | — | 49% | $17,436 | 57% |
| 7 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 120 | Illustration | $29,513 | 58% | $29,039 | 55% |
| 8 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 108 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | $26,668 | 58% | — | 74% |
| 9 | Stephens College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 50 | Playwriting and Screenwriting | $16,476 | 43% | $23,198 | 77% |
| 10 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · 5 feeder programs | 37 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $27,236 | 54% | — | 64% |
| 11 | Maryville University of Saint Louis Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 33 | Graphic Design | $39,623 | 66% | $24,921 | 95% |
| 12 | Saint Louis Community College Bridgeton, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 32 | Graphic Design | $25,929 | 21% | — | — |
| 13 | Truman State University Kirksville, MO Public · 5 feeder programs | 27 | Art/Art Studies, General | $15,998 | 69% | — | 84% |
| 14 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · 5 feeder programs | 24 | Music Teacher Education | $37,057 | 54% | — | 86% |
| 15 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO Public · 7 feeder programs | 22 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $29,309 | 42% | — | 97% |
| 16 | University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $32,224 | 57% | — | 63% |
| 17 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 20 | Music Teacher Education | $37,042 | 64% | $8,360 | 12% |
| 18 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 19 | Music Performance, General | — | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 19 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 17 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | — | 39% | — | — |
| 20 | Columbia College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 15 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 42% | $23,247 | — |
| 21 | Drury University Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 15 | Graphic Design | — | 62% | $20,482 | 58% |
| 22 | Avila University Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | — | 52% | $16,721 | 88% |
| 23 | East Central College Union, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 14 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 48% | — | — |
| 24 | Culver - Stockton College Canton, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 13 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 39% | $21,269 | 99% |
| 25 | Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 38% | — | — |
All 46 schools in Missouri
Every school in Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield | Public | 256 | 14 |
| University of Missouri - Kansas City | Kansas City | Public | 178 | 15 |
| University of Missouri - Columbia | Columbia | Public | 155 | 11 |
| Washington University in St Louis | St. Louis | Private not-for-profit | 134 | 10 |
| Webster University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 131 | 19 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Private not-for-profit | 122 | 12 |
| Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 120 | 10 |
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | Public | 108 | 3 |
| Stephens College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 50 | 7 |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg | Public | 37 | 5 |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 33 | 3 |
| Saint Louis Community College | Bridgeton | Public | 32 | 1 |
| Truman State University | Kirksville | Public | 27 | 5 |
| Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville | Public | 24 | 5 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 22 | 7 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Missouri
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Missouri pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Missouri
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 Missouri
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 Missouri.
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 Graphic Design, which awarded 137 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 8.1% 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 47 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 1,681 people a year in Missouri.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Missouri?+
The median is $75,960 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 3.4% 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 Missouri?+
46 institutions in Missouri reported graduates from at least one of the 47 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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