Best institutions to study Jewelry Arts
A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning jewelry from gems, other stones, and precious metals.
20 U.S. institutions graduated 725 Jewelry Arts students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 50.0713, a specialization of Fine and Studio Arts (CIP 50.07), and leads most directly to the Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers occupation (BLS SOC 51-9071).
About Jewelry Arts programs
A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning jewelry from gems, other stones, and precious metals. Includes instruction in design concepts, electroforming, enameling, gemology, lapidary technique and art, metal and non-metal casting and molding, metal coloring, metalsmithing and finishing, personal style development, photo etching, and stone cutting and polishing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Jewelry Arts program, part of Fine and Studio Arts, prepares students to creatively and technically express their emotions and ideas through jewelry design. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about crafting unique pieces from gems, precious metals, and other materials, offering a blend of artistic and technical training. Students will learn various techniques and concepts essential for jewelry making, including design, gemology, and metalsmithing. This program caters to aspiring jewelers and artists looking to develop their personal style and technical skills in the visual and performing arts field.
Core coursework includes instruction in design concepts, electroforming, enameling, lapidary techniques, metal casting, and stone cutting. Students will also develop skills in personal style development and photo etching, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of jewelry arts.
Credentials awarded
What Jewelry Arts graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year383 graduates / yr · 8 institutions53%
- Award of less than 12 weeks256 graduates / yr · 2 institutions35%
- Associate's degree32 graduates / yr · 6 institutions4.4%
- Bachelor's degree25 graduates / yr · 8 institutions3.4%
- Master's degree20 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.8%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years9 graduates / yr · 1 institution1.2%
Graduates over time
Jewelry Arts completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 953 |
| 2013 | 923 |
| 2014 | 888 |
| 2015 | 1,045 |
| 2016 | 1,013 |
| 2017 | 981 |
| 2018 | 876 |
| 2019 | 728 |
| 2020 | 544 |
| 2021 | 321 |
| 2022 | 440 |
| 2023 | 497 |
| 2024 | 482 |
| 2025 | 725 |
Top 20 institutions for Jewelry 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 | Gemological Institute of America - New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitAward of less than 12 weeksAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 304 | 89% | $35,098 | $36,639 |
| 2 | Gemological Institute of America - Carlsbad Carlsbad, CAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of less than 12 weeks | 265 | 91% | $30,331 | $36,639 |
| 3 | Austin Community College District Austin, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 32 | 20% | — | — |
| 4 | Studio Jewelers New York, NYPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 30 | 80% | $9,590 | — |
| 5 | Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 17 | 89% | $41,764 | $16,510 |
| 6 | Haywood Community College Clyde, NCPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 15 | 34% | — | — |
| 7 | Fashion Institute of Technology New York, NYPublicAssociate's | 12 | 81% | — | $23,428 |
| 8 | Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 31% | — | — |
| 9 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CAPrivate for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 9 | 34% | $40,294 | — |
| 10 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 70% | $28,133 | — |
| 11 | Pasadena City College Pasadena, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 5 | 48% | — | — |
| 12 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston, MAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 69% | — | $21,461 |
| 13 | Flathead Valley Community College Kalispell, MTPublicAssociate's | 3 | 29% | — | — |
| 14 | Santa Fe Community College Santa Fe, NMPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 3 | 23% | — | — |
| 15 | Maine College of Art & Design Portland, MEPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 52% | $34,336 | $24,555 |
| 16 | California College of the Arts San Francisco, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 61% | $40,041 | $17,690 |
| 17 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OHPublicBachelor's | 1 | 52% | — | $22,837 |
| 18 | Arcadia University Glenside, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 67% | $23,796 | $22,389 |
| 19 | Rhode Island College Providence, RIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 48% | — | $28,241 |
| 20 | Folsom Lake College Folsom, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 44% | — | — |
* 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 11 states
Where Jewelry Arts graduates come from. Each state links to all Fine and Studio Arts programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4 | 354 | Gemological Institute of America - New York304 / yr |
| California | 5 | 281 | Gemological Institute of America - Carlsbad265 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 32 | Austin Community College District32 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 18 | Rhode Island School of Design17 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 15 | Haywood Community College15 / yr |
| New Mexico | 2 | 13 | Central New Mexico Community College10 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 5 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design5 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 3 | Flathead Valley Community College3 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 2 | Maine College of Art & Design2 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | University of Akron Main Campus1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Arcadia University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 51-9071, Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Jewelry Arts program can pursue careers as jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, with an annual median wage of $49,140. While the job outlook shows a decline of 5.5%, there are approximately 4,000 annual openings in related fields, typically requiring a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 50.0713
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workersprimary SOC 51-9071 | $52,540 | -5.5% Decline | ~4,000 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1121 | $78,620 | +1.7% Little or no change | ~9,000 | Master's degree |
Craft Artists SOC 27-1012 | $46,080 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | 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 Jewelry 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
- Clean and polish metal items and jewelry pieces, using jewelers' tools, polishing wheels, and chemical baths.
- Smooth soldered joints and rough spots, using hand files and emery paper, and polish smoothed areas with polishing wheels or buffing wire.
- Create jewelry from materials such as gold, silver, platinum, and precious or semiprecious stones.
- Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
- Examine assembled or finished products to ensure conformance to specifications, using magnifying glasses or precision measuring instruments.
- Make repairs, such as enlarging or reducing ring sizes, soldering pieces of jewelry together, and replacing broken clasps and mountings.
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
- 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 types of awards can I earn in this program?+
You can earn an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, an award of less than 12 weeks, an Associate's degree, or a Bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop in the Jewelry Arts program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, design, and customer service, among others.
What careers can I pursue after completing this program?+
You can work as a jeweler, craft artist, or even as a postsecondary art teacher.
How many colleges offer the Jewelry Arts program in the U.S.?+
There are approximately 20 colleges offering the Jewelry Arts program across the United States.
What is the CIP code for Jewelry Arts?+
Jewelry Arts is CIP 50.0713 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 by fashioning jewelry from gems, other stones, and precious metals. Includes instruction in design concepts, electroforming, enameling, gemology, lapidary technique and art, metal and non-metal casting and molding, metal coloring, metalsmithing and finishing, personal style development, photo etching, and stone cutting and polishing.
How many institutions offer Jewelry Arts programs?+
20 U.S. institutions reported Jewelry Arts graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 725 credentials in the year. That is 1.9% of all Fine and Studio Arts graduates.
How much do Jewelry Arts graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers occupation, which Jewelry Arts most directly leads to, pays a median of $52,540 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Fine and Studio Arts field report median earnings of $23,428 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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