Best colleges for Crafts/Craft Design
A program that focuses on the aesthetics, techniques, and creative processes for designing and fashioning objects in one or more of the handcraft or folk art traditions, and that prepares individuals to create in any of these media.
9 U.S. institutions graduated 45 Crafts/Craft Design students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0201, a specialization of Crafts/Craft Design (CIP 50.02), and leads most directly to the Craft Artists occupation (BLS SOC 27-1012).
About Crafts/Craft Design programs
A program that focuses on the aesthetics, techniques, and creative processes for designing and fashioning objects in one or more of the handcraft or folk art traditions, and that prepares individuals to create in any of these media.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Crafts/Craft Design program, also known as Folk Art and Artisanry, focuses on the aesthetics, techniques, and creative processes involved in designing and crafting objects within various handcraft and folk art traditions. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about creating functional or decorative items and who wish to develop their artistic skills in a supportive environment.
Students in the Crafts/Craft Design program gain essential skills in critical thinking, active listening, and creative problem-solving. Coursework typically covers design principles, material selection, and various crafting techniques, equipping students with the knowledge to create unique handcrafted objects.
Credentials awarded
What Crafts/Craft Design graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree36 graduates / yr · 6 institutions80%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years5 graduates / yr · 1 institution11%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.4%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions4.4%
Graduates over time
Crafts/Craft Design completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 244 |
| 2013 | 215 |
| 2014 | 195 |
| 2015 | 202 |
| 2016 | 183 |
| 2017 | 200 |
| 2018 | 198 |
| 2019 | 123 |
| 2020 | 128 |
| 2021 | 117 |
| 2022 | 71 |
| 2023 | 101 |
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2025 | 45 |
Top 9 institutions for Crafts/Craft Design, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 63% | — | $21,237 |
| 2 | College for Creative Studies Detroit, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 71% | $32,153 | $28,817 |
| 3 | Haywood Community College Clyde, NCPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 7 | 34% | — | — |
| 4 | Holy Apostles College and Seminary Cromwell, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 79% | $16,073 | — |
| 5 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 69% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, AKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 28% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, ARPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 42% | — | — |
| 8 | Maine College of Art & Design Portland, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 52% | $34,336 | — |
| 9 | Montserrat College of Art Beverly, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 53% | $34,176 | — |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Crafts/Craft Design field (CIP 50.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Crafts/Craft Design graduates come from. Each state links to all Crafts/Craft Design programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1 | 22 | Virginia Commonwealth University22 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 8 | College for Creative Studies8 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 7 | Haywood Community College7 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 3 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design2 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 2 | Holy Apostles College and Seminary2 / yr |
| Alaska | 1 | 1 | University of Alaska Southeast1 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock1 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 1 | Maine College of Art & Design1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1012, Craft Artists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Crafts/Craft Design program often pursue careers as craft artists, with an average annual wage of $38,480. The job outlook for craft artists is projected to grow by about 2.1%, with approximately 1,000 annual openings. Many positions in this field do not require formal educational credentials.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Craft Artistsprimary SOC 27-1012 | $46,080 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | No formal educational credential |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Artists and Related Workers, All Other SOC 27-1019 | $71,240 | +0.8% Little or no change | ~1,200 | No formal educational credential |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- 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.
- Training
- 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.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Crafts/Craft Design programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Select materials for use based on strength, color, texture, balance, weight, size, malleability and other characteristics.
- Create functional or decorative objects by hand, using a variety of methods and materials.
- Develop concepts or creative ideas for craft objects.
- Apply finishes to objects being crafted.
- Cut, shape, fit, join, mold, or otherwise process materials, using hand tools, power tools, or machinery.
- Set specifications for materials, dimensions, and finishes.
Tools and technology used
Common questions
What types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or various short-term awards.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, design, and various crafting techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a craft artist, or in related roles such as art or music teachers.
What is the job outlook for craft artists?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a projected growth of 2.1%.
What is the CIP code for Crafts/Craft Design?+
Crafts/Craft Design is CIP 50.0201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Crafts/Craft Design (CIP 50.02). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the aesthetics, techniques, and creative processes for designing and fashioning objects in one or more of the handcraft or folk art traditions, and that prepares individuals to create in any of these media.
How many institutions offer Crafts/Craft Design programs?+
9 U.S. institutions reported Crafts/Craft Design graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 45 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Crafts/Craft Design graduates.
How much do Crafts/Craft Design graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Craft Artists occupation, which Crafts/Craft Design most directly leads to, pays a median of $46,080 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Crafts/Craft Design field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,817, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Crafts/Craft Design graduates, so its figures match the Crafts/Craft Design program page.
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