Best institutions to study Art History
A program that focuses on the study of the historical development of art as social and intellectual phenomenon, the analysis of works of art, and art conservation.
356 U.S. institutions graduated 3,195 Art History students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0703, a specialization of Fine and Studio Arts (CIP 50.07), and leads most directly to the Museum Technicians and Conservators occupation (BLS SOC 25-4013).
About Art History programs
A program that focuses on the study of the historical development of art as social and intellectual phenomenon, the analysis of works of art, and art conservation. Includes instruction in the theory of art, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Art History program, formally known as Art History, Criticism and Conservation, is designed for students interested in exploring the historical development of art as a social and intellectual phenomenon. This program encompasses the analysis of art, art conservation, and the study of various periods, cultures, styles, and themes, making it ideal for those passionate about visual and performing arts.
Students in this program will acquire essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes instruction in art theory, research methods, and connoisseurship, providing a comprehensive understanding of art history and conservation techniques.
Credentials awarded
What Art History graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree2,072 graduates / yr · 322 institutions65%
- Master's degree733 graduates / yr · 103 institutions23%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship186 graduates / yr · 49 institutions5.8%
- Associate's degree112 graduates / yr · 11 institutions3.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year44 graduates / yr · 3 institutions1.4%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years20 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.6%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate18 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.6%
- Post-master's certificate10 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Art History completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,818 |
| 2013 | 4,606 |
| 2014 | 4,461 |
| 2015 | 4,081 |
| 2016 | 3,846 |
| 2017 | 3,486 |
| 2018 | 3,414 |
| 2019 | 3,489 |
| 2020 | 3,273 |
| 2021 | 3,055 |
| 2022 | 3,077 |
| 2023 | 3,138 |
| 2024 | 3,179 |
| 2025 | 3,195 |
Top 50 institutions for Art History, 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 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 89 | 88% | $29,023 | $25,053 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 82 | 96% | $15,315 | $51,435 |
| 3 | Sotheby's Institute of Art - NY New York, NYPrivate for-profitMaster's | 70 | — | — | — |
| 4 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NYPublicAssociate's | 66 | 25% | — | $13,559 |
| 5 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 63 | 49% | $17,436 | — |
| 6 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 56 | 93% | — | $21,220 |
| 7 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 47 | 93% | — | $20,368 |
| 8 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh Raleigh, NCPublicBachelor's | 44 | 85% | — | $30,577 |
| 9 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 42 | 68% | $24,278 | $19,327 |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 42 | 90% | — | $30,503 |
| 11 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 41 | 83% | — | — |
| 12 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 40 | 89% | — | $32,088 |
| 13 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 36 | 69% | $54,185 | $20,967 |
| 14 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 35 | 85% | — | $26,709 |
| 15 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 34 | 75% | — | $21,106 |
| 16 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 34 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 17 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 31 | 89% | $21,956 | $17,374 |
| 18 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralBachelor'sMaster's | 30 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 19 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsBachelor'sMaster's | 30 | 86% | — | $23,086 |
| 20 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 29 | 57% | — | $22,788 |
| 21 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master's | 27 | 74% | $49,088 | $18,451 |
| 22 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 27 | 81% | $13,712 | $34,241 |
| 23 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 27 | 85% | — | $25,947 |
| 24 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 26 | 61% | — | $27,067 |
| 25 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 25 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 26 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 25 | 86% | — | $26,785 |
| 27 | University of California - Davis Davis, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 86% | — | $22,700 |
| 28 | American University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 24 | 75% | $30,225 | $35,115 |
| 29 | Barnard College New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 24 | 93% | $24,675 | $39,947 |
| 30 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 23 | 76% | — | $21,792 |
| 31 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 23 | 67% | $48,998 | $23,984 |
| 32 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 22 | 84% | — | $21,908 |
| 33 | University of South Florida Tampa, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 21 | 77% | — | $24,818 |
| 34 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 20 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 35 | University of Oregon Eugene, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 20 | 72% | — | $26,404 |
| 36 | South Dakota State University Brookings, SDPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 20 | 62% | — | — |
| 37 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CAPublicBachelor's | 19 | 87% | — | $16,989 |
| 38 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor's | 19 | 50% | — | $24,606 |
| 39 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 92% | $26,873 | $50,161 |
| 40 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 19 | 84% | $26,083 | $18,420 |
| 41 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 76% | — | — |
| 42 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 88% | — | $29,186 |
| 43 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 19 | 97% | $22,055 | $38,820 |
| 44 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 19 | 68% | — | — |
| 45 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 18 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 46 | Florida International University Miami, FLPublicBachelor's | 18 | 74% | — | $22,334 |
| 47 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 18 | 91% | — | $23,793 |
| 48 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 95% | $17,613 | $31,073 |
| 49 | Fordham University Bronx, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 82% | $38,931 | $35,929 |
| 50 | Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 82% | $19,073 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Fine and Studio Arts field (CIP 50.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 48 states & territories
Where Art History graduates come from. Each state links to all Fine and Studio Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-4013, Museum Technicians and Conservators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Art History program can pursue careers as Museum Technicians and Conservators, with a job outlook that is faster than average, featuring an annual growth rate of 5.4%. The median wage for these roles is approximately $47,460, and a typical educational requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0703
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Museum Technicians and Conservatorsprimary SOC 25-4013 | $51,440 | +5.4% Faster than average | ~1,900 | Bachelor's degree |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Curators SOC 25-4012 | $63,420 | +7.0% Faster than average | ~1,800 | Master's degree |
Archivists SOC 25-4011 | $64,550 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Master's degree |
SOC 13-2022 | — | — | — | — |
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 Art History 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
- Install, arrange, assemble, and prepare artifacts for exhibition, ensuring the artifacts' safety, reporting their status and condition, and identifying and correcting any problems with the set up.
- Repair, restore, and reassemble artifacts, designing and fabricating missing or broken parts, to restore them to their original appearance and prevent deterioration.
- Clean objects, such as paper, textiles, wood, metal, glass, rock, pottery, and furniture, using cleansers, solvents, soap solutions, and polishes.
- Photograph objects for documentation.
- Determine whether objects need repair and choose the safest and most effective method of repair.
- Prepare artifacts for storage and shipping.
Tools and technology used
Other Fine and Studio Arts specializations
The 12 other 6-digit CIP codes under Fine and Studio Arts (CIP 50.07).
- Art/CIP 50.0701
Art Studies 19,283 graduates / yr717 institutions - Fine/CIP 50.0702
Studio Arts 11,751 graduates / yr637 institutions - Intermedia/CIP 50.0706
Multimedia 797 graduates / yr39 institutions - Fine Arts and Art StudiesCIP 50.0799771 graduates / yr69 institutions
- Jewelry ArtsCIP 50.0713725 graduates / yr20 institutions
- PaintingCIP 50.0708638 graduates / yr52 institutions
- DrawingCIP 50.0705368 graduates / yr33 institutions
- SculptureCIP 50.0709230 graduates / yr38 institutions
- Ceramic Arts and CeramicsCIP 50.0711172 graduates / yr44 institutions
- PrintmakingCIP 50.0710165 graduates / yr31 institutions
- FiberCIP 50.0712100 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Metal ArtsCIP 50.0714partial data6 graduates / yr3 institutions
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctor's degree, or an Associate's degree in Art History.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a Museum Technician, Conservator, or in related fields like teaching and curating.
What is the job outlook for Art History graduates?+
The job outlook is faster than average, with about 1,900 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Art History?+
Art History is CIP 50.0703 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Fine and Studio Arts (CIP 50.07). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the study of the historical development of art as social and intellectual phenomenon, the analysis of works of art, and art conservation. Includes instruction in the theory of art, art history research methods, connoisseurship, the preservation and conservation of works of art, and the study of specific periods, cultures, styles, and themes.
How many institutions offer Art History programs?+
356 U.S. institutions reported Art History graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 48 states & territories, awarding 3,195 credentials in the year. That is 8.4% of all Fine and Studio Arts graduates.
How much do Art History graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Museum Technicians and Conservators occupation, which Art History most directly leads to, pays a median of $51,440 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Fine and Studio Arts field report median earnings of $24,135 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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