Best Art programs in New Jersey, 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.
45 schools in New Jersey run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,363 people a year. The job pays a median of $80,100 in New Jersey across about 3,300 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in New Jersey that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
41 programs in New Jersey that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in New Jersey (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 New Jersey page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0701In New Jersey → | 446 | 18.9% | 17 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0602In New Jersey → | 242 | 10.2% | 7 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0702In New Jersey → | 191 | 8.1% | 14 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0501In New Jersey → | 181 | 7.7% | 10 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0101In New Jersey → | 173 | 7.3% | 9 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0409In New Jersey → | 136 | 5.8% | 11 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 7 | CIP 50.0903In New Jersey → | 132 | 5.6% | 4 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0401In New Jersey → | 117 | 5.0% | 5 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0301In New Jersey → | 98 | 4.1% | 7 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0799In New Jersey → | 83 | 3.5% | 3 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0407In New Jersey → | 75 | 3.2% | 6 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0703In New Jersey → | 67 | 2.8% | 5 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0913In New Jersey → | 61 | 2.6% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0706In New Jersey → | 56 | 2.4% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0908In New Jersey → | 38 | 1.6% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 16 | CIP 13.1312In New Jersey → | 36 | 1.5% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0999In New Jersey → | 27 | 1.1% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0102In New Jersey → | 26 | 1.1% | 2 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0404In New Jersey → | 24 | 1.0% | 3 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0601In New Jersey → | 16 | 0.7% | 3 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0506In New Jersey → | 14 | 0.6% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 22 | CIP 50.0512In New Jersey → | 13 | 0.6% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 23 | CIP 50.1099In New Jersey → | 12 | 0.5% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 24 | CIP 50.0605In New Jersey → | 10 | 0.4% | 2 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 25 | CIP 13.1302In New Jersey → | 9 | 0.4% | 1 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 26 | CIP 13.1324In New Jersey → | 9 | 0.4% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 27 | CIP 50.1004In New Jersey → | 9 | 0.4% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 28 | CIP 50.0502In New Jersey → | 8 | 0.3% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 29 | CIP 50.0906In New Jersey → | 8 | 0.3% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 30 | CIP 50.0912In New Jersey → | 8 | 0.3% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 31 | CIP 50.0507In New Jersey → | 7 | 0.3% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 32 | CIP 50.0902In New Jersey → | 7 | 0.3% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 33 | CIP 50.0910In New Jersey → | 5 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 34 | Visual and Performing Arts, Othermain feeder CIP 50.9999In New Jersey → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $24,229 | $25,000 |
| 35 | CIP 50.1001In New Jersey → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 36 | CIP 50.1002In New Jersey → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 37 | CIP 50.1003In New Jersey → | 3 | 0.1% | 1 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 38 | CIP 50.0410In New Jersey → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 39 | CIP 50.0709In New Jersey → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 40 | CIP 50.0907In New Jersey → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 41 | CIP 50.0904In New Jersey → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 25 schools in New Jersey
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 19 of the 45 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJ Public · 8 feeder programs | 424 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $28,474 | 65% | — | 88% |
| 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ Public · 9 feeder programs | 349 | Music Performance, General | $36,707 | 84% | — | 58% |
| 3 | Rowan University Glassboro, NJ Public · 12 feeder programs | 175 | Art/Art Studies, General | $26,119 | 67% | — | 78% |
| 4 | Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ Private not-for-profit · 13 feeder programs | 145 | Voice and Opera | $20,727 | 61% | $23,844 | 79% |
| 5 | County College of Morris Randolph, NJ Public · 4 feeder programs | 94 | Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other | $33,881 | 36% | — | — |
| 6 | Kean University Union, NJ Public · 8 feeder programs | 85 | Design and Visual Communications, General | $35,673 | 47% | — | 76% |
| 7 | The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ Public · 4 feeder programs | 82 | Art/Art Studies, General | $33,214 | 86% | — | 62% |
| 8 | New Jersey City University Jersey City, NJ Public · 5 feeder programs | 79 | Art/Art Studies, General | $19,326 | 34% | — | 98% |
| 9 | Ocean County College Toms River, NJ Public · 3 feeder programs | 74 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 42% | — | — |
| 10 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus Madison, NJ Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 57 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $22,311 | 67% | $23,573 | 95% |
| 11 | Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJ Public · 4 feeder programs | 57 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | — | 31% | — | — |
| 12 | Stockton University Galloway, NJ Public · 2 feeder programs | 55 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $25,099 | 69% | — | 89% |
| 13 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 47 | Music Technology | $21,623 | 87% | $34,827 | 48% |
| 14 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJ Public · 2 feeder programs | 46 | Art/Art Studies, General | $23,892 | 44% | — | 90% |
| 15 | Hudson County Community College Jersey City, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 42 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $22,619 | 26% | — | — |
| 16 | Brookdale Community College Lincroft, NJ Public · 4 feeder programs | 41 | Graphic Design | — | 30% | — | — |
| 17 | Rutgers University - Newark Newark, NJ Public · 3 feeder programs | 38 | Art/Art Studies, General | $21,908 | 64% | — | 71% |
| 18 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, NJ Public · 3 feeder programs | 35 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 70% | — | 71% |
| 19 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 34 | Art History, Criticism and Conservation | — | 98% | $13,729 | 5% |
| 20 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University Bloomfield, NJ Public · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | $17,625 | 38% | $20,940 | 70% |
| 21 | Middlesex College Edison, NJ Public · 2 feeder programs | 31 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 33% | — | — |
| 22 | Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel, NJ Public · 4 feeder programs | 31 | Graphic Design | — | 36% | — | — |
| 23 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden, NJ Public · 2 feeder programs | 29 | Art/Art Studies, General | $21,908 | 67% | — | 66% |
| 24 | Sussex County Community College Newton, NJ Public · 3 feeder programs | 28 | Graphic Design | — | 37% | — | — |
| 25 | Drew University Madison, NJ Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 26 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | $13,710 | 70% | $23,094 | 68% |
All 45 schools in New Jersey
Every school in New Jersey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair State University | Montclair | Public | 424 | 8 |
| Rutgers University - New Brunswick | New Brunswick | Public | 349 | 9 |
| Rowan University | Glassboro | Public | 175 | 12 |
| Rider University | Lawrenceville | Private not-for-profit | 145 | 13 |
| County College of Morris | Randolph | Public | 94 | 4 |
| Kean University | Union | Public | 85 | 8 |
| The College of New Jersey | Ewing | Public | 82 | 4 |
| New Jersey City University | Jersey City | Public | 79 | 5 |
| Ocean County College | Toms River | Public | 74 | 3 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus | Madison | Private not-for-profit | 57 | 5 |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg | Public | 57 | 4 |
| Stockton University | Galloway | Public | 55 | 2 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken | Private not-for-profit | 47 | 2 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | Wayne | Public | 46 | 2 |
| Hudson County Community College | Jersey City | Public | 42 | 1 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in New Jersey
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. New Jersey pays above the national figure.
Concentrated here: New Jersey employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in New Jersey
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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey.
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 Art/Art Studies, General, which awarded 446 degrees in New Jersey in 2024-25, 18.9% 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 41 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts, Music, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 2,363 people a year in New Jersey.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in New Jersey?+
The median is $80,100 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 1.9% above 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 New Jersey?+
45 institutions in New Jersey reported graduates from at least one of the 41 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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