Best institutions to study Commercial and Advertising Art
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media.
161 U.S. institutions graduated 3,097 Commercial and Advertising Art students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0402, a specialization of Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04), and leads most directly to the Commercial and Industrial Designers occupation (BLS SOC 27-1021).
About Commercial and Advertising Art programs
A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics.
See also: 09.0903 - Advertising.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Commercial and Advertising Art program, part of the Design and Applied Arts field, equips students with the artistic techniques needed to communicate ideas effectively to business and consumer audiences. This program focuses on various forms of media, including illustrations, digital graphics, and printed materials, preparing individuals for a dynamic career in visual arts.
Students will gain core skills in concept design, layout, and various artistic techniques such as engraving, silkscreen, and computer graphics. Coursework emphasizes critical thinking, active listening, and design principles to enhance creative problem-solving abilities.
Credentials awarded
What Commercial and Advertising Art graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Associate's degree1,370 graduates / yr · 88 institutions44%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year721 graduates / yr · 44 institutions23%
- Bachelor's degree495 graduates / yr · 39 institutions16%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years347 graduates / yr · 36 institutions11%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years103 graduates / yr · 2 institutions3.3%
- Award of less than 12 weeks36 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
- Master's degree25 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.8%
Graduates over time
Commercial and Advertising Art completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5,683 |
| 2013 | 4,566 |
| 2014 | 4,528 |
| 2015 | 4,727 |
| 2016 | 4,543 |
| 2017 | 4,652 |
| 2018 | 4,264 |
| 2019 | 3,825 |
| 2020 | 3,778 |
| 2021 | 3,583 |
| 2022 | 3,247 |
| 2023 | 3,308 |
| 2024 | 2,971 |
| 2025 | 3,097 |
Top 50 institutions for Commercial and Advertising Art, 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 earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 215 | 81% | — | $14,361 |
| 2 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 184 | 33% | — | $32,153 |
| 3 | Collin County Community College District McKinney, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 103 | 20% | — | $33,456 |
| 4 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SCPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 92 | 30% | — | — |
| 5 | Central Community College Grand Island, NEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 80 | 48% | — | — |
| 6 | Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 75 | 31% | — | $30,979 |
| 7 | The Modern College of Design Kettering, OHPrivate for-profitAssociate's | 73 | 69% | $35,097 | — |
| 8 | Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IAPublicAward of less than 12 weeksAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 69 | 39% | — | $25,265 |
| 9 | Mitchell Community College Statesville, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 68 | 28% | — | — |
| 10 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 66 | 41% | — | $24,490 |
| 11 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 64 | 54% | — | $40,286 |
| 12 | Miami Ad School Miami, FLPrivate for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 60 | — | — | $56,833 |
| 13 | CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 59 | 28% | — | $19,146 |
| 14 | Alamance Community College Graham, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 53 | 39% | — | — |
| 15 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 52 | 30% | — | — |
| 16 | El Paso Community College El Paso, TXPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 49 | 24% | — | — |
| 17 | South Plains College Levelland, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 49 | 29% | — | — |
| 18 | Montgomery College Rockville, MDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 47 | 32% | — | — |
| 19 | Portland Community College Portland, ORPublicAssociate's | 44 | 18% | — | $26,285 |
| 20 | Miami Ad School - Atlanta Atlanta, GAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 43 | — | $28,032 | $56,833 |
| 21 | Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TNPublicAssociate's | 43 | 26% | — | $20,165 |
| 22 | Blinn College District Brenham, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 43 | 11% | — | — |
| 23 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 37 | 35% | — | — |
| 24 | Boise State University Boise, IDPublicBachelor's | 34 | 60% | — | $31,083 |
| 25 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MNPublicBachelor's | 34 | 65% | — | $31,337 |
| 26 | Oklahoma City Community College Oklahoma City, OKPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 33 | 27% | — | $30,101 |
| 27 | St Charles Community College Cottleville, MOPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 33 | 25% | — | — |
| 28 | Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 32 | 25% | — | — |
| 29 | Metropolitan Community College Area Omaha, NEPublicAssociate's | 29 | 29% | — | $29,902 |
| 30 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 29 | 21% | — | $21,445 |
| 31 | Moore Norman Technology Center Norman, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 29 | 91% | — | — |
| 32 | Bergen Community College Paramus, NJPublicAssociate's | 26 | 21% | — | — |
| 33 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 26 | 19% | — | — |
| 34 | Seattle Central College Seattle, WAPublicAssociate's | 25 | 32% | — | $29,775 |
| 35 | Canadian Valley Technology Center El Reno, OKPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 25 | 71% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MOPublicBachelor's | 24 | 54% | — | $33,921 |
| 37 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City, MOPublicAssociate's | 24 | 34% | — | — |
| 38 | Coastal Alabama Community College Bay Minette, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 21 | 31% | — | — |
| 39 | Lawson State Community College Birmingham, ALPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 27% | — | — |
| 40 | Prince George's Community College Largo, MDPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 21 | 18% | — | — |
| 41 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, NDPublicAssociate's | 20 | 47% | — | — |
| 42 | Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, OKPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 20 | 56% | $21,964 | $31,466 |
| 43 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitMaster's | 19 | 34% | $40,294 | $20,829 |
| 44 | Middlesex Community College Bedford, MAPublicAssociate's | 19 | 23% | — | — |
| 45 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 84% | $28,851 | $46,181 |
| 46 | Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 56% | $30,330 | $27,970 |
| 47 | Delaware County Community College Media, PAPublicAssociate's | 18 | 24% | — | — |
| 48 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane, WAPublicAssociate's | 18 | 32% | — | $21,508 |
| 49 | Palomar College San Marcos, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 17 | 38% | — | — |
| 50 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MDPublicBachelor's | 17 | 35% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Design and Applied Arts field (CIP 50.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 37 states
Where Commercial and Advertising Art graduates come from. Each state links to all Design and Applied Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1021, Commercial and Industrial Designers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Commercial and Advertising Art program can pursue careers as Commercial and Industrial Designers or Graphic Designers, among other roles. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth of 3.2% and approximately 2,500 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $79,450, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0402
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Commercial and Industrial Designersprimary SOC 27-1021 | $83,910 | +3.2% About as fast as average | ~2,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Graphic Designers SOC 27-1024 | $62,960 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~20,000 | Bachelor'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 Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Commercial and Advertising Art 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
- Prepare sketches of ideas, detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, using drafting instruments, paints and brushes, or computer-aided design equipment.
- Modify and refine designs, using working models, to conform with customer specifications, production limitations, or changes in design trends.
- Evaluate feasibility of design ideas, based on factors such as appearance, safety, function, serviceability, budget, production costs/methods, and market characteristics.
- Confer with engineering, marketing, production, or sales departments, or with customers, to establish and evaluate design concepts for manufactured products.
- Present designs and reports to customers or design committees for approval and discuss need for modification.
- Research production specifications, costs, production materials, and manufacturing methods and provide cost estimates and itemized production requirements.
Tools and technology used
Other Design and Applied Arts specializations
The 9 other 6-digit CIP codes under Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04).
- Graphic DesignCIP 50.040910,754 graduates / yr580 institutions
- Design and Visual CommunicationsCIP 50.04016,709 graduates / yr249 institutions
- Interior DesignCIP 50.04085,774 graduates / yr231 institutions
- Fashion/CIP 50.0407
Apparel Design 3,243 graduates / yr119 institutions - IllustrationCIP 50.04103,166 graduates / yr68 institutions
- Game and Interactive Media DesignCIP 50.04112,954 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Design and Applied ArtsCIP 50.04991,720 graduates / yr77 institutions
- Industrial and Product DesignCIP 50.04041,432 graduates / yr64 institutions
- Commercial PhotographyCIP 50.0406766 graduates / yr60 institutions
Common questions
What types of degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an Associate's degree, a Bachelor's degree, or shorter awards ranging from 12 weeks to 2 years.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in design, critical thinking, active learning, and various artistic techniques.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.2% and about 2,500 annual openings.
What careers can I pursue after completing this program?+
You can pursue careers as Commercial and Industrial Designers, Graphic Designers, or other related roles.
What is the CIP code for Commercial and Advertising Art?+
Commercial and Advertising Art is CIP 50.0402 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Design and Applied Arts (CIP 50.04). NCES defines it as: A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics.
How many institutions offer Commercial and Advertising Art programs?+
161 U.S. institutions reported Commercial and Advertising Art graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 37 states, awarding 3,097 credentials in the year. That is 7.8% of all Design and Applied Arts graduates.
How much do Commercial and Advertising Art graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Commercial and Industrial Designers occupation, which Commercial and Advertising Art most directly leads to, pays a median of $83,910 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Design and Applied Arts field report median earnings of $30,979 one year after graduation (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.
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