South Dakota · Fine and Studio Arts

Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in South Dakota

Ranked by graduate earnings

South Dakota State University, Black Hills State University and Augustana University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees and certificates in South Dakota: 32, 13 and 10 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 South Dakota colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 70 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…

Institutions
8
offering CIP 50.07
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
70
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$25,327
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,011
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
—
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of South Dakota
Vermillion Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$25,327860%—$27,000

Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in South Dakota

Top 6 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1South Dakota State University
Brookings Public
32Not reported
2Black Hills State University
Spearfish Public
13Not reported
3Augustana University
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit
10Not reported
4University of South Dakota
Vermillion Public
8$25,327
5University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls Private not-for-profit
4Not reported
6Northern State University
Aberdeen Public
1Not reported
Show the other 2 South Dakota colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Sinte Gleska UniversityMissionPublic1
Sisseton Wahpeton CollegeSissetonPublic1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-1.2%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~2,200
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,560
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingActive LearningActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionWriting

What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in South Dakota

Jobs in South Dakota
—
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
—
annual
Best-paying metro
—

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$66,920 avg · 200 jobs
Photographers
$43,740 avg · 190 jobs
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
$48,520 avg · 90 jobs
Curators
$74,800 avg · 50 jobs
Art Directors
$69,360 avg · 30 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in South Dakota.

Which South Dakota colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+

South Dakota State University (32 graduates a year), Black Hills State University (13 graduates a year) and Augustana University (10 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees and certificates in South Dakota, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 South Dakota colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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