Best institutions to study Drawing
A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions through representation by lines made on a surface.
33 U.S. institutions graduated 368 Drawing students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0705, a specialization of Fine and Studio Arts (CIP 50.07), and leads most directly to the Special Effects Artists and Animators occupation (BLS SOC 27-1014).
About Drawing programs
A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions through representation by lines made on a surface. Includes instruction in eye-hand coordination; line, value, shape, and perspective; figure and still life drawing; the use of media such as pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel, and brush; and personal style development.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Drawing program, part of the Fine and Studio Arts field, prepares individuals to express emotions, ideas, and inner visions through various drawing techniques. Students will learn to create representations using lines on surfaces, developing both their creative and technical skills in the process. This program is ideal for aspiring artists who wish to refine their drawing abilities and explore personal style development.
In this program, students will gain expertise in eye-hand coordination, perspective, figure and still life drawing, and various media such as pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, and pastel. Coursework emphasizes both technical skills and the development of a unique artistic voice.
Credentials awarded
What Drawing graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree276 graduates / yr · 13 institutions75%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year42 graduates / yr · 6 institutions11%
- Associate's degree32 graduates / yr · 13 institutions8.7%
- Master's degree16 graduates / yr · 4 institutions4.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Drawing completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 375 |
| 2013 | 378 |
| 2014 | 429 |
| 2015 | 367 |
| 2016 | 354 |
| 2017 | 332 |
| 2018 | 355 |
| 2019 | 373 |
| 2020 | 357 |
| 2021 | 343 |
| 2022 | 321 |
| 2023 | 290 |
| 2024 | 253 |
| 2025 | 368 |
Top 33 institutions for Drawing, 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 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 209 | 53% | — | $21,226 |
| 2 | Sinclair Community College Dayton, OHPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 33 | 41% | — | — |
| 3 | Columbus State University Columbus, GAPublicBachelor's | 25 | 42% | — | $22,798 |
| 4 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 25 | 74% | $49,088 | $18,451 |
| 5 | De Anza College Cupertino, CAPublicAssociate's | 6 | 68% | — | — |
| 6 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 67% | $21,351 | — |
| 7 | Chabot College Hayward, CAPublicAssociate's | 5 | 47% | — | — |
| 8 | Daemen University Amherst, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 59% | $16,826 | — |
| 9 | Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 49% | — | — |
| 10 | Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 58% | $31,870 | $18,839 |
| 11 | New York Academy of Art New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | — | — | — |
| 12 | Cerritos College Norwalk, CAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 31% | — | — |
| 13 | Cuyamaca College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 41% | — | — |
| 14 | Grossmont College El Cajon, CAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 37% | — | — |
| 15 | Monterey Peninsula College Monterey, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 40% | — | — |
| 16 | College of San Mateo San Mateo, CAPublicAssociate's | 3 | 61% | — | — |
| 17 | Drake University Des Moines, IAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 74% | $28,855 | — |
| 18 | Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 72% | $37,659 | $21,138 |
| 19 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German San German, PRPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 3 | 43% | $10,477 | — |
| 20 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CAPublicAssociate's | 2 | 48% | — | — |
| 21 | Berkeley City College Berkeley, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 36% | — | — |
| 22 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 2 | 52% | — | $23,214 |
| 23 | Trident Technical College Charleston, SCPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 2 | 30% | — | — |
| 24 | Los Angeles Mission College Sylmar, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 20% | — | — |
| 25 | Ohlone College Fremont, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 52% | — | — |
| 26 | Oxnard College Oxnard, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 34% | — | — |
| 27 | San Diego Mesa College San Diego, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 35% | — | — |
| 28 | West Los Angeles College Culver City, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 28% | — | — |
| 29 | Bradley University Peoria, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 76% | $21,768 | — |
| 30 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 47% | — | $24,540 |
| 31 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 58% | — | $22,840 |
| 32 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 57% | — | $30,521 |
| 33 | Las Positas College Livermore, CAPublicAssociate's | 1 | 53% | — | — |
* 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 13 states & territories
Where Drawing graduates come from. Each state links to all Fine and Studio Arts programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2 | 234 | Georgia State University209 / yr |
| California | 16 | 40 | De Anza College6 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 37 | Sinclair Community College33 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 34 | Pratt Institute - Main25 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 6 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion6 / yr |
| Iowa | 1 | 3 | Drake University3 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 3 | Maryland Institute College of Art3 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 3 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German3 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 2 | Ferris State University1 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth2 / yr |
| South Carolina | 1 | 2 | Trident Technical College2 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | Bradley University1 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | Minnesota State University Moorhead1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1014, Special Effects Artists and Animators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Drawing program can pursue careers as Special Effects Artists and Animators, among other roles in the visual arts. The job outlook shows little to no change, with an annual opening of about 5,000 positions and a median wage of $99,800, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0705
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Special Effects Artists and Animatorsprimary SOC 27-1014 | $102,030 | +1.6% Little or no change | ~5,000 | 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 |
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators SOC 27-1013 | $55,490 | -1.2% Decline | ~2,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Craft Artists SOC 27-1012 | $46,080 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | 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 Drawing 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
- Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
- Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
- Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
- Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
- Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
- Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
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 - Art HistoryCIP 50.07033,195 graduates / yr356 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
- 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, Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and various artistic techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a Special Effects Artist, Art Teacher, Fine Artist, or Craft Artist.
What is the job outlook for drawing graduates?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 5,000 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Drawing?+
Drawing is CIP 50.0705 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 prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions through representation by lines made on a surface. Includes instruction in eye-hand coordination; line, value, shape, and perspective; figure and still life drawing; the use of media such as pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel, and brush; and personal style development.
How many institutions offer Drawing programs?+
33 U.S. institutions reported Drawing graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states & territories, awarding 368 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Fine and Studio Arts graduates.
How much do Drawing graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Special Effects Artists and Animators occupation, which Drawing most directly leads to, pays a median of $102,030 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Fine and Studio Arts field report median earnings of $22,798 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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