Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in South Carolina
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of South Carolina-Upstate, University of South Carolina-Columbia and College of Charleston are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in South Carolina by graduate earnings. University of South Carolina-Upstate leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,203, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia, College of Charleston and Clemson University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in South Carolina: 69, 43 and 23 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 South Carolina colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 331 degrees and certificates a year in all.
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…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. 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 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,203 | 23 | 43% | — | $26,500 |
| 2 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,467 | 69 | 79% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | College of Charleston Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,070 | 43 | 66% | — | $21,500 |
| 4 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public · Bachelor's degree | $16,817 | 20 | 57% | — | $29,187 |
| 5 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $23,121 | 18 | 48% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | Lander University Greenwood Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,605 | 13 | 50% | — | $26,937 |
| 7 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $19,963 | 12 | 40% | — | $23,567 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in South Carolina
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia Public | 69 | $27,467 |
| 2 | College of Charleston Charleston Public | 43 | $24,070 |
| 3 | Clemson University Clemson Public | 23 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg Public | 23 | $35,203 |
| 5 | Winthrop University Rock Hill Public | 20 | $16,817 |
| 6 | Francis Marion University Florence Public | 19 | Not reported |
| 7 | Coastal Carolina University Conway Public | 18 | $23,121 |
| 8 | Lander University Greenwood Public | 13 | $21,605 |
| 9 | University of South Carolina Aiken Aiken Public | 12 | $19,963 |
| 10 | Converse University Spartanburg Private not-for-profit | 11 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 14 South Carolina colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina Beaufort | Bluffton | Public | 11 |
| Furman University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Anderson University | Anderson | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| South Carolina State University | Orangeburg | Public | 8 |
| Bob Jones University | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Wofford College | Spartanburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Claflin University | Orangeburg | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Benedict College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| North Greenville University | Tigerville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Coker University | Hartsville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Columbia College | Columbia | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Newberry College | Newberry | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Trident Technical College | Charleston | Public | 2 |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | Beaufort | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).
Top skills
What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in South Carolina
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in South Carolina.
Which South Carolina colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
University of South Carolina-Columbia (69 graduates a year), College of Charleston (43 graduates a year) and Clemson University (23 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in South Carolina, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 South Carolina colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in South Carolina?+
By graduate earnings, University of South Carolina-Upstate leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in South Carolina, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,203, College Scorecard. University of South Carolina-Columbia and College of Charleston follow. By degrees awarded, University of South Carolina-Columbia is the largest, with 69 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in South Carolina has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of South Carolina-Upstate tops the list at $35,203. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Fine and Studio Arts program?+
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…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?+
The national job outlook is about -1.2% growth with around 2,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
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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