Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in North Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
North Carolina State University at Raleigh, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Western Carolina University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in North Carolina by graduate earnings. North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,577, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Greensboro, East Carolina University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in North Carolina: 108, 105 and 67 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 35 North Carolina colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 790 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 10 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 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,577 | 44 | 85% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,855 | 67 | 69% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,253 | 38 | 60% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,005 | 31 | 91% | — | $14,600 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,504 | 45 | 54% | — | $23,942 |
| 6 | Appalachian State University Boone Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,120 | 66 | 75% | — | $21,985 |
| 7 | East Carolina University Greenville Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,271 | 105 | 63% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,072 | 49 | 71% | — | $26,672 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,745 | 108 | 56% | — | $25,000 |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $15,257 | 26 | 57% | — | $31,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in North Carolina
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 North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro Public | 108 | $18,745 |
| 2 | East Carolina University Greenville Public | 105 | $21,271 |
| 3 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte Public | 67 | $25,855 |
| 4 | Appalachian State University Boone Public | 66 | $22,120 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington Public | 49 | $20,072 |
| 6 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville Public | 45 | $23,504 |
| 7 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh Public | 44 | $30,577 |
| 8 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee Public | 38 | $24,253 |
| 9 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Public | 31 | $24,005 |
| 10 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro Public | 26 | $15,257 |
ShowHide the other 25 North Carolina colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke University | Durham | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde | Public | 21 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville | Public | 19 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | Pembroke | Public | 14 |
| High Point University | High Point | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Wake Forest University | Winston-Salem | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| North Carolina Central University | Durham | Public | 11 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem | Public | 11 |
| Davidson College | Davidson | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Brevard College | Brevard | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | Hickory | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Barton College | Wilson | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Elon University | Elon | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Mars Hill University | Mars Hill | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Greensboro College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Charlotte | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Campbell University | Buies Creek | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Mount Olive | Mount Olive | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Guilford College | Greensboro | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Saint Augustine's University | Raleigh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Southwestern Community College | Sylva | Public | 2 |
| Gardner-Webb University | Boiling Springs | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Western Piedmont Community College | Morganton | Public | 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 North Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in North Carolina.
Which North Carolina colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (108 graduates a year), East Carolina University (105 graduates a year) and University of North Carolina at Charlotte (67 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in North Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 35 North Carolina colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in North Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, North Carolina State University at Raleigh leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in North Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $30,577, College Scorecard. University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Western Carolina University follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the largest, with 108 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in North Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, North Carolina State University at Raleigh tops the list at $30,577. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
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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