Best Fine Artist programs in Missouri, ranked by enrollment
Create original artwork using any of a wide variety of media and.
27 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 462 people a year. The job pays a median of $49,820 in Missouri across about 110 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.
9 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 | Fine/Studio Arts, Generalmain feeder CIP 50.0702In Missouri → | 129 | 27.9% | 14 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | Art/Art Studies, Generalmain feeder CIP 50.0701In Missouri → | 120 | 26.0% | 13 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0101In Missouri → | 98 | 21.2% | 3 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 4 | Paintingmain feeder CIP 50.0708In Missouri → | 36 | 7.8% | 4 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 5 | Intermedia/Multimediamain feeder CIP 50.0706In Missouri → | 26 | 5.6% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 6 | Fine Arts and Art Studies, Othermain feeder CIP 50.0799In Missouri → | 22 | 4.8% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 7 | Ceramic Arts and Ceramicsmain feeder CIP 50.0711In Missouri → | 15 | 3.2% | 3 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 8 | Printmakingmain feeder CIP 50.0710In Missouri → | 11 | 2.4% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 9 | Sculpturemain feeder CIP 50.0709In Missouri → | 5 | 1.1% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
Top 25 schools in Missouri
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 9 of the 27 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 2 feeder programs | 93 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | $26,668 | 58% | — | 74% |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 60 | Art/Art Studies, General | $24,024 | 58% | — | 91% |
| 3 | Kansas City Art Institute Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 49 | Painting | $22,906 | 58% | $29,039 | 55% |
| 4 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 3 feeder programs | 38 | Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other | $23,034 | 75% | — | 78% |
| 5 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 28 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 94% | $14,126 | 12% |
| 6 | University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 21 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $32,224 | 57% | — | 63% |
| 7 | Webster University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 20 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 64% | $25,090 | 86% |
| 8 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO Public · 2 feeder programs | 15 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $29,309 | 42% | — | 97% |
| 9 | East Central College Union, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 14 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 48% | — | — |
| 10 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 14 | Intermedia/Multimedia | — | 49% | $17,436 | 57% |
| 11 | Truman State University Kirksville, MO Public · 2 feeder programs | 14 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $15,998 | 69% | — | 84% |
| 12 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 13 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $27,236 | 54% | — | 64% |
| 13 | Jefferson College Hillsboro, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 12 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 38% | — | — |
| 14 | Culver - Stockton College Canton, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 11 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 39% | $21,269 | 99% |
| 15 | Columbia College Columbia, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 10 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 42% | $23,247 | — |
| 16 | University of Missouri - Kansas City Kansas City, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $25,476 | 55% | — | 72% |
| 17 | State Fair Community College Sedalia, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 9 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 44% | — | — |
| 18 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 6 | Painting | — | 64% | $8,360 | 12% |
| 19 | Avila University Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 52% | $16,721 | 88% |
| 20 | Saint Louis University Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 5 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 80% | $24,886 | 75% |
| 21 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 54% | — | 86% |
| 22 | Park University Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 38% | $16,013 | — |
| 23 | Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO Public · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 21% | — | — |
| 24 | Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 55% | $20,939 | 68% |
| 25 | Drury University Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 1 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 62% | $20,482 | 58% |
All 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau | Public | 93 | 2 |
| Missouri State University - Springfield | Springfield | Public | 60 | 3 |
| Kansas City Art Institute | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 49 | 4 |
| University of Missouri - Columbia | Columbia | Public | 38 | 3 |
| Washington University in St Louis | St. Louis | Private not-for-profit | 28 | 3 |
| University of Missouri - St Louis | Saint Louis | Public | 21 | 1 |
| Webster University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 20 | 2 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 15 | 2 |
| East Central College | Union | Public | 14 | 1 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Private not-for-profit | 14 | 3 |
| Truman State University | Kirksville | Public | 14 | 2 |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg | Public | 13 | 1 |
| Jefferson College | Hillsboro | Public | 12 | 1 |
| Culver - Stockton College | Canton | Private not-for-profit | 11 | 1 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 10 | 2 |
What fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn in Missouri
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $55,490. 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 Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators page.
How to become a Fine Artist
Job zone 3 of 5 · SVP 6.0 to < 7.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
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 12 majors mapped to Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators12 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 50.0101Visual and Performing Arts, General
- 50.0701Art/Art Studies, General
- 50.0702Fine/Studio Arts, General
- 50.0705Drawing
- 50.0706Intermedia/Multimedia
- 50.0708Painting
- 50.0709Sculpture
- 50.0710Printmaking
- 50.0711Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
- 50.0799Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other
- 50.1101Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art
- 51.2703Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator
Common questions
Answers for people weighing fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators programs in Missouri.
What degree do you need to become a Fine Artist?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Fine/Studio Arts, General, which awarded 129 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 27.9% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Fine Artist?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 9 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Visual and Performing Arts. Together they graduate about 462 people a year in Missouri.
How much do fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators earn in Missouri?+
The median is $49,820 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 10.2% below the U.S. median of $55,490. 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 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators growing?+
BLS projects a -1.2% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 2,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Missouri?+
27 institutions in Missouri reported graduates from at least one of the 9 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 fine artists, including painters, sculptors, and illustrators work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Artist, Painter, Sculptor, Fine Artist among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 27-1013.
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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