Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Fine and Studio Arts by graduate earnings are Columbia University ($51,435), University of Southern California ($50,161) and University of Nebraska at Kearney ($40,501), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Columbia University (New York, NY): $51,435, 82 graduates a year
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA): $50,161, 59 graduates a year
- University of Nebraska at Kearney (Kearney, NE): $40,501, 29 graduates a year
- Barnard College (New York, NY): $39,947, 24 graduates a year
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): $38,820, 31 graduates a year
Compare 1,323 U.S. colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Fine and Studio Arts programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,555 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 50.07 and the Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators occupation (BLS SOC).
About Fine and Studio Arts programs
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 passionate about creating art and wish to explore their creative potential in a structured educational environment. Students may attend independent art schools or larger institutions like universities, some of which may be affiliated with art museums.
In this program, students develop core skills such as critical thinking, active learning, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers essential knowledge areas, including design principles, fine arts techniques, and the use of various materials and technologies in artistic creation.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Columbia University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,435 | 82 | 96% | $15,315 | $26,853 |
| 2 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,161 | 59 | 92% | $26,873 | $21,125 |
| 3 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,501 | 29 | 58% | — | $16,101 |
| 4 | Barnard College New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,947 | 24 | 93% | $24,675 | $18,750 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,820 | 31 | 97% | $22,055 | $23,359 |
| 6 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,717 | 20 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,585 | 35 | 46% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,154 | 36 | 84% | $33,246 | — |
| 9 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,927 | 49 | 86% | — | $26,323 |
| 10 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,547 | 67 | 68% | — | $21,111 |
| 11 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,236 | 23 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 12 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,006 | 44 | 86% | — | $19,198 |
| 13 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,967 | 122 | 65% | — | $20,125 |
| 14 | Fordham University Bronx, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,929 | 49 | 82% | $38,931 | $24,495 |
| 15 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,846 | 151 | 52% | — | $26,097 |
| 16 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,203 | 23 | 43% | — | $26,500 |
| 17 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,123 | 53 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 18 | American University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,115 | 39 | 75% | $30,225 | $23,250 |
| 19 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,115 | 41 | 49% | — | $26,019 |
| 20 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,582 | 47 | 64% | — | $25,371 |
| 21 | Williams College Williamstown, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,560 | 55 | 94% | $10,747 | $11,850 |
| 22 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,428 | 62 | 69% | — | $27,846 |
| 23 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,241 | 79 | 81% | $13,712 | $16,656 |
| 24 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,056 | 169 | 90% | — | $21,947 |
| 25 | Utah State University Logan, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,552 | 62 | 59% | — | $17,500 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
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 | Gemological Institute of America-Carlsbad Carlsbad, CA Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $36,639 | 265 | 91% | $30,331 | $8,233 |
| 2 | Gemological Institute of America-New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $36,639 | 304 | 89% | $35,098 | $8,233 |
| 3 | County College of Morris Randolph, NJ Public · Associate degree | $33,881 | 57 | 36% | — | $9,250 |
Specializations within Fine and Studio Arts
13 of the 13 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 50.07 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Art/CIP 50.0701
Art Studies 19,283 graduates / yr717 institutions53 states - Fine/CIP 50.0702
Studio Arts 11,751 graduates / yr637 institutions49 states - Art HistoryCIP 50.07033,195 graduates / yr356 institutions48 states
- Intermedia/CIP 50.0706
Multimedia 797 graduates / yr39 institutions22 states - Fine Arts and Art StudiesCIP 50.0799771 graduates / yr69 institutions29 states
- Jewelry ArtsCIP 50.0713725 graduates / yr20 institutions11 states
- PaintingCIP 50.0708638 graduates / yr52 institutions27 states
- DrawingCIP 50.0705368 graduates / yr33 institutions13 states
- SculptureCIP 50.0709230 graduates / yr38 institutions23 states
- Ceramic Arts and CeramicsCIP 50.0711172 graduates / yr44 institutions20 states
- PrintmakingCIP 50.0710165 graduates / yr31 institutions19 states
- FiberCIP 50.0712100 graduates / yr10 institutions9 states
- Metal ArtsCIP 50.0714New in CIP 2020partial data6 graduates / yr3 institutions2 states
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1013, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Fine and Studio Arts program can pursue various careers in the visual arts field. While the job outlook shows a slight decline of 1.2%, there are approximately 2,200 annual openings, with a median wage of $60,560. A typical education requirement for these roles is a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Fine and Studio Arts
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 50.07.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 50.07 (Fine and Studio Arts) maps to 13 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 13-2022 | Appraisers of Personal and Business Property |
| 25-1121 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2031 | Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
| 25-4011 | Archivists |
| 25-4012 | Curators |
| 25-4013 | Museum Technicians and Conservators |
| 27-1011 | Art Directors |
| 27-1012 | Craft Artists |
| 27-1013 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorsprimary |
| 27-1014 | Special Effects Artists and Animators |
| 27-1019 | Artists and Related Workers, All Other |
| 27-4021 | Photographers |
| 51-9071 | Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Fine and Studio Arts programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
- Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
- Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
- Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
- Market artwork through brochures, mailings, or Web sites.
- Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Art/Art Studies, Fine/Studio Arts, Art History, Drawing, Intermedia/Multimedia, Painting, Sculpture, and Printmaking.
What skills will I develop in the Fine and Studio Arts program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active learning, communication, and various artistic techniques.
What is the job outlook for Fine and Studio Arts graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.2%, with about 2,200 annual openings in the field.
What is the typical salary for careers in Fine and Studio Arts?+
The median wage for careers in this field is approximately $60,560.
How much do Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn?+
Fine and Studio Arts graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $24,555, College Scorecard (2019); the Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators occupation pays about $73,150 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Fine and Studio Arts?+
Fine and Studio Arts maps to CIP 50.07 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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