Best institutions to study Fine/Studio Arts
A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media.
637 U.S. institutions graduated 11,751 Fine/Studio Arts students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0702, a specialization of Fine and Studio Arts (CIP 50.07), and leads most directly to the Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators occupation (BLS SOC 27-1013).
About Fine/Studio Arts programs
A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images), theory of art, color theory, composition and perspective, anatomy, the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio, and art portfolio marketing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Fine/Studio Arts program, also known as Fine and Studio Arts, prepares students to become creative artists in various visual and plastic media. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about expressing themselves through art and looking to develop their skills in traditional and modern artistic techniques.
Students in this program gain knowledge in fine arts media such as drawing, painting, and sculpture, as well as modern media like photography and digital images. Coursework typically includes art theory, color theory, and composition, alongside practical skills in studio management and portfolio marketing.
Credentials awarded
What Fine/Studio Arts graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree9,498 graduates / yr · 507 institutions81%
- Master's degree1,180 graduates / yr · 128 institutions10%
- Associate's degree946 graduates / yr · 105 institutions8.1%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year79 graduates / yr · 8 institutions0.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate25 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.2%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years12 graduates / yr · 5 institutions0.1%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks4 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Fine/Studio Arts completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 12,415 |
| 2013 | 12,783 |
| 2014 | 12,680 |
| 2015 | 12,221 |
| 2016 | 12,189 |
| 2017 | 11,395 |
| 2018 | 11,392 |
| 2019 | 11,372 |
| 2020 | 11,591 |
| 2021 | 11,499 |
| 2022 | 11,206 |
| 2023 | 11,007 |
| 2024 | 11,563 |
| 2025 | 11,751 |
Top 50 institutions for Fine/Studio Arts, 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 | School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 779 | 67% | $48,998 | $23,984 |
| 2 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 303 | 70% | — | $22,839 |
| 3 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 215 | 69% | — | $21,493 |
| 4 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 171 | 69% | — | — |
| 5 | Bard College Annandale-On-Hudson, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 155 | 68% | $24,278 | $19,327 |
| 6 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 152 | 61% | — | $27,067 |
| 7 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 122 | 57% | — | $22,788 |
| 8 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Baton Rouge, LAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 121 | 69% | — | $23,348 |
| 9 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 118 | 86% | — | $26,785 |
| 10 | CUNY City College New York, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 116 | 57% | — | $24,742 |
| 11 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 110 | 67% | — | $30,143 |
| 12 | California State University - East Bay Hayward, CAPublicBachelor's | 106 | 48% | — | $33,220 |
| 13 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 105 | 63% | — | $21,271 |
| 14 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicAssociate'sBachelor's | 103 | 81% | — | $23,428 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicBachelor's | 98 | 52% | — | $21,523 |
| 16 | The New School New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 97 | 69% | $54,185 | $20,967 |
| 17 | School of Visual Arts New York, NYPrivate for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 96 | 76% | $58,518 | $21,344 |
| 18 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 87 | 68% | — | $30,683 |
| 19 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 79 | 89% | — | $32,031 |
| 20 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 77 | 91% | — | $23,793 |
| 21 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicBachelor's | 76 | 46% | — | $31,144 |
| 22 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicBachelor's | 76 | 54% | — | $27,595 |
| 23 | University of California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 74 | 93% | — | $20,368 |
| 24 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MIPublicBachelor's | 72 | 67% | — | $24,135 |
| 25 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 72 | 51% | — | $21,891 |
| 26 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 71 | 56% | — | $18,745 |
| 27 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 71 | 54% | — | $25,156 |
| 28 | Alfred University Alfred, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 70 | 57% | $22,481 | $22,912 |
| 29 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicBachelor's | 70 | 55% | — | $28,445 |
| 30 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sPost-degree cert. | 69 | 74% | $49,088 | $18,451 |
| 31 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 68 | 74% | — | $17,501 |
| 32 | Towson University Towson, MDPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 68 | 69% | — | $29,958 |
| 33 | University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GAPublicBachelor's | 68 | 37% | — | $23,530 |
| 34 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 67 | 61% | — | $28,485 |
| 35 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 65 | 83% | — | — |
| 36 | CUNY Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 64 | 54% | — | $22,633 |
| 37 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 63 | 75% | — | $24,370 |
| 38 | The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 62 | 81% | $14,337 | $16,678 |
| 39 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 61 | 64% | — | $19,138 |
| 40 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 59 | 79% | — | $27,467 |
| 41 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 59 | 90% | — | $30,503 |
| 42 | Portland State University Portland, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 58 | 53% | — | $20,866 |
| 43 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GAPublicMaster's | 55 | 52% | — | $35,846 |
| 44 | Northern Illinois University Dekalb, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 53 | 49% | — | $26,795 |
| 45 | University of Houston - Clear Lake Houston, TXPublicBachelor's | 53 | 52% | — | $25,274 |
| 46 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 52 | 80% | — | $29,344 |
| 47 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NEPublicBachelor's | 52 | 47% | — | $28,942 |
| 48 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 52 | 89% | — | $32,088 |
| 49 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KYPublicBachelor's | 51 | 52% | — | $31,448 |
| 50 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 49 | 86% | — | $21,777 |
* 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 49 states & territories
Where Fine/Studio Arts graduates come from. Each state links to all Fine and Studio Arts programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1013, Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Fine/Studio Arts program often pursue careers as fine artists, including painters and sculptors, as well as art educators. Although the job outlook indicates a decline of 1.2%, there are approximately 2,200 annual openings, with a median wage of $60,560 for those holding a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0702
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustratorsprimary SOC 27-1013 | $55,490 | -1.2% Decline | ~2,200 | 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 |
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 Fine/Studio Arts 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
- 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.
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 - 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
- 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 Fine/Studio Arts?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or a short-term award.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active learning, and various artistic techniques.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as a fine artist, art teacher, or in various related roles.
What is the job outlook for Fine/Studio Arts graduates?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 1.2%, but there are still about 2,200 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Fine/Studio Arts?+
Fine/Studio Arts is CIP 50.0702 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 to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images), theory of art, color theory, composition and perspective, anatomy, the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio, and art portfolio marketing.
How many institutions offer Fine/Studio Arts programs?+
637 U.S. institutions reported Fine/Studio Arts graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 49 states & territories, awarding 11,751 credentials in the year. That is 30.8% of all Fine and Studio Arts graduates.
How much do Fine/Studio Arts graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators occupation, which Fine/Studio Arts most directly leads to, pays a median of $55,490 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Fine and Studio Arts field report median earnings of $24,818 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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