Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,820, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania Western University, Temple University and Pennsylvania State University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Pennsylvania: 120, 97 and 76 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 70 Pennsylvania colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 1,081 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 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,820 | 31 | 97% | $22,055 | $23,359 |
| 2 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,597 | 25 | 94% | $23,803 | $21,500 |
| 3 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,377 | 21 | 54% | — | $25,000 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,709 | 53 | 85% | — | $23,477 |
| 5 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,694 | 23 | 56% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,990 | 34 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,086 | 76 | 86% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,108 | 97 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,523 | 120 | 52% | — | — |
| 10 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,413 | 39 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Public · Associate degree | $19,024 | 33 | 28% | — | $13,641 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Pennsylvania Western University California Public | 120 | $21,523 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 97 | $22,108 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 76 | $23,086 |
| 4 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 53 | $26,709 |
| 5 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 6 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 39 | $19,413 |
| 7 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 34 | $24,990 |
| 8 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 31 | $38,820 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 27 | $10,780 |
| 10 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 27 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 60 Pennsylvania colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County Community College | Blue Bell | Public | 33 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Public | 31 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 23 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 21 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | Bethlehem | Public | 19 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Dickinson College | Carlisle | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Reading Area Community College | Reading | Public | 16 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 16 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Community College of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh | Public | 13 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | Schnecksville | Public | 13 |
| Chatham University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Delaware County Community College | Media | Public | 12 |
| Moravian University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 11 |
| Moore College of Art and Design | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Lafayette College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Lincoln University | Lincoln University | Public | 9 |
| Lycoming College | Williamsport | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Haverford College | Haverford | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Abington | Abington | Public | 7 |
| Cedar Crest College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Luzerne County Community College | Nanticoke | Public | 6 |
| Westmoreland County Community College | Youngwood | Public | 6 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Muhlenberg College | Allentown | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Studio Incamminati | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Rosemont College | Rosemont | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Ursinus College | Collegeville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Public | 3 |
| Holy Family University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Villanova University | Villanova | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| La Salle University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Lehigh University | Bethlehem | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | Lancaster | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 1 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
Pennsylvania Western University (120 graduates a year), Temple University (97 graduates a year) and Pennsylvania State University (76 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 70 Pennsylvania colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,820, College Scorecard. Carnegie Mellon University and Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania Western University is the largest, with 120 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $38,820. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Pennsylvania is $57,030 (median $54,270). 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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