Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bowling Green State University, University of Cincinnati and Youngstown State University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. Bowling Green State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,128, College Scorecard. Ohio State University, Kent State University at Kent and University of Cincinnati award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Ohio: 115, 77 and 58 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 44 Ohio colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 776 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 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,128 | 44 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,431 | 58 | 75% | — | $28,943 |
| 3 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,203 | 33 | 50% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Ohio State University Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,186 | 115 | 88% | — | $26,849 |
| 5 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,053 | 53 | 65% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,912 | 26 | 80% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Kenyon College Gambier Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,082 | 22 | 82% | $20,475 | $15,500 |
| 8 | Wright State University Dayton Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,631 | 21 | 42% | — | $29,259 |
| 9 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,138 | 77 | 64% | — | $28,501 |
| 10 | Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,751 | 14 | 56% | $30,330 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Ohio
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 | Ohio State University Columbus Public | 115 | $29,186 |
| 2 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 77 | $19,138 |
| 3 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 58 | $29,431 |
| 4 | Ohio University Athens Public | 53 | $29,053 |
| 5 | Sinclair Community College Dayton Public | 48 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 44 | $31,128 |
| 7 | Oberlin College Oberlin Private not-for-profit | 39 | Not reported |
| 8 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public | 33 | $29,203 |
| 9 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 26 | $24,912 |
| 10 | Kenyon College Gambier Private not-for-profit | 22 | $23,082 |
ShowHide the other 34 Ohio colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State University | Dayton | Public | 21 |
| University of Toledo | Toledo | Public | 19 |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | Public | 17 |
| Columbus College of Art & Design | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| The College of Wooster | Wooster | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Cleveland Institute of Art | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Denison University | Granville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | Public | 10 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Xavier University | Cincinnati | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| University of Rio Grande | Rio Grande | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Public | 9 |
| Central State University | Wilberforce | Public | 8 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Wittenberg University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ohio Northern University | Ada | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Capital University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Ashland University | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bluffton University | Bluffton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Cuyahoga Community College District | Cleveland | Public | 2 |
| Lake Erie College | Painesville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lourdes University | Sylvania | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Marietta College | Marietta | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Owens Community College | Perrysburg | Public | 2 |
| Kent State University at Stark | North Canton | Public | 1 |
| Mount St. Joseph University | Cincinnati | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Muskingum University | New Concord | Private not-for-profit | 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 Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
Ohio State University (115 graduates a year), Kent State University at Kent (77 graduates a year) and University of Cincinnati (58 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 44 Ohio colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, Bowling Green State University leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $31,128, College Scorecard. University of Cincinnati and Youngstown State University follow. By degrees awarded, Ohio State University is the largest, with 115 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bowling Green State University tops the list at $31,128. 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 Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Ohio is $37,820 (median $31,780), across about 510 jobs. 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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