Best Art programs in Tennessee, ranked by enrollment
Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts.
47 schools in Tennessee run programs that feed this job, graduating 2,410 people a year. The job pays a median of $72,030 in Tennessee across about 1,370 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Tennessee that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
43 programs in Tennessee that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Tennessee (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Tennessee page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.1003In Tennessee → | 332 | 13.8% | 5 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0701In Tennessee → | 319 | 13.2% | 12 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0602In Tennessee → | 221 | 9.2% | 10 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0999In Tennessee → | 175 | 7.3% | 8 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0702In Tennessee → | 136 | 5.6% | 11 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0913In Tennessee → | 129 | 5.4% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 7 | CIP 50.1099In Tennessee → | 116 | 4.8% | 3 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0501In Tennessee → | 113 | 4.7% | 12 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0101In Tennessee → | 106 | 4.4% | 10 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 10 | CIP 50.0409In Tennessee → | 97 | 4.0% | 11 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 11 | CIP 50.1001In Tennessee → | 87 | 3.6% | 3 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0605In Tennessee → | 67 | 2.8% | 7 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0903In Tennessee → | 62 | 2.6% | 9 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 14 | CIP 50.0102In Tennessee → | 54 | 2.2% | 6 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0601In Tennessee → | 48 | 2.0% | 5 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 16 | CIP 13.1312In Tennessee → | 43 | 1.8% | 9 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0703In Tennessee → | 33 | 1.4% | 7 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 18 | CIP 50.0506In Tennessee → | 27 | 1.1% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0401In Tennessee → | 24 | 1.0% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0410In Tennessee → | 22 | 0.9% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0406In Tennessee → | 21 | 0.9% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 22 | CIP 50.0407In Tennessee → | 19 | 0.8% | 2 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 23 | CIP 50.0911In Tennessee → | 17 | 0.7% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 24 | CIP 13.1302In Tennessee → | 16 | 0.7% | 6 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 25 | CIP 50.0904In Tennessee → | 16 | 0.7% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 26 | CIP 50.0301In Tennessee → | 15 | 0.6% | 2 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 27 | CIP 50.0509In Tennessee → | 14 | 0.6% | 4 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 28 | CIP 50.0908In Tennessee → | 13 | 0.5% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 29 | CIP 50.0502In Tennessee → | 9 | 0.4% | 3 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 30 | CIP 50.0915In Tennessee → | 9 | 0.4% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 31 | CIP 50.0504In Tennessee → | 8 | 0.3% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 32 | CIP 50.0905In Tennessee → | 7 | 0.3% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 33 | CIP 50.0914In Tennessee → | 6 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 34 | CIP 50.0910In Tennessee → | 5 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 35 | CIP 50.0507In Tennessee → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 36 | CIP 50.0599In Tennessee → | 4 | 0.2% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 37 | CIP 50.0912In Tennessee → | 4 | 0.2% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 38 | CIP 13.1324In Tennessee → | 3 | 0.1% | 2 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 39 | CIP 50.0907In Tennessee → | 3 | 0.1% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 40 | CIP 50.0906In Tennessee → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 41 | CIP 50.0916In Tennessee → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 42 | CIP 50.0708In Tennessee → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 43 | CIP 50.0917In Tennessee → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 25 schools in Tennessee
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 15 of the 47 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belmont University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 25 feeder programs | 676 | Music Management | $30,666 | 71% | $29,246 | 95% |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN Public · 9 feeder programs | 412 | Music Management | $27,172 | 54% | — | 69% |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis, TN Public · 5 feeder programs | 128 | Art/Art Studies, General | $26,451 | 51% | — | 72% |
| 4 | Lipscomb University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 16 feeder programs | 123 | Music, Other | $19,352 | 72% | $24,309 | 68% |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Knoxville, TN Public · 10 feeder programs | 116 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $23,661 | 74% | — | 42% |
| 6 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN Private not-for-profit · 14 feeder programs | 93 | Stringed Instruments | — | 94% | $14,854 | 6% |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN Public · 2 feeder programs | 82 | Art/Art Studies, General | $21,766 | 50% | — | 81% |
| 8 | Nossi College of Art and Design Nashville, TN Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 63 | Commercial Photography | $24,497 | 42% | $24,474 | 46% |
| 9 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN Public · 6 feeder programs | 59 | Art/Art Studies, General | $16,696 | 53% | — | 86% |
| 10 | Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville, TN Public · 4 feeder programs | 58 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 31% | — | — |
| 11 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville, TN Public · 2 feeder programs | 56 | Art/Art Studies, General | $19,157 | 40% | — | 96% |
| 12 | Lee University Cleveland, TN Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 55 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $26,598 | 63% | $18,918 | 71% |
| 13 | SAE Institute of Technology - Nashville Nashville, TN Private for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 45 | Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management, Other | $17,881 | 42% | $21,395 | — |
| 14 | Freed - Hardeman University Henderson, TN Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 43 | Photography | — | 71% | $19,418 | 60% |
| 15 | Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, TN Public · 3 feeder programs | 39 | Digital Arts | — | 28% | — | — |
| 16 | Nashville Film Institute Nashville, TN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $22,919 | 86% | $24,996 | — |
| 17 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale, TN Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 30 | Graphic Design | — | 49% | $24,187 | 65% |
| 18 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $19,231 | 58% | — | 76% |
| 19 | Visible Music College Memphis, TN Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 27 | Music Performance, General | $25,929 | 23% | $26,266 | 28% |
| 20 | The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN Public · 2 feeder programs | 26 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | $25,660 | 53% | — | 88% |
| 21 | Nashville State Community College Nashville, TN Public · 3 feeder programs | 24 | Music, Other | — | 18% | — | — |
| 22 | Maryville College Maryville, TN Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 20 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 50% | $20,489 | 61% |
| 23 | Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN Public · 1 feeder programs | 18 | Visual and Performing Arts, General | — | 26% | — | — |
| 24 | The University of the South Sewanee, TN Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 18 | Art History, Criticism and Conservation | — | 80% | $21,573 | 57% |
| 25 | Carson - Newman University Jefferson City, TN Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 16 | Graphic Design | — | 53% | $19,537 | 90% |
All 47 schools in Tennessee
Every school in Tennessee with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 676 | 25 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Public | 412 | 9 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Public | 128 | 5 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 123 | 16 |
| The University of Tennessee - Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | 116 | 10 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 93 | 14 |
| The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Public | 82 | 2 |
| Nossi College of Art and Design | Nashville | Private for-profit | 63 | 4 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Public | 59 | 6 |
| Pellissippi State Community College | Knoxville | Public | 58 | 4 |
| Austin Peay State University | Clarksville | Public | 56 | 2 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 55 | 10 |
| SAE Institute of Technology - Nashville | Nashville | Private for-profit | 45 | 2 |
| Freed - Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 43 | 5 |
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Public | 39 | 3 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Tennessee
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Tennessee pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Tennessee
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary page.
How to become a Art
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Tennessee
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1302Art Teacher Education
- 13.1312Music Teacher Education
- 13.1324Drama and Dance Teacher Education
- 50.0101Visual and Performing Arts, General
- 50.0102Digital Arts
- 50.0201Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry
- 50.0301Dance, General
- 50.0302Ballet
- 50.0399Dance, Other
- 50.0401Design and Visual Communications, General
- 50.0404Industrial and Product Design
- 50.0406Commercial Photography
- 50.0407Fashion/Apparel Design
- 50.0409Graphic Design
- 50.0410Illustration
- 50.0501Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- 50.0502Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
- 50.0504Playwriting and Screenwriting
- 50.0505Theatre Literature, History and Criticism
- 50.0506Acting
- 50.0507Directing and Theatrical Production
- 50.0509Musical Theatre
- 50.0510Costume Design
- 50.0511Comedy Writing and Performance
- 50.0512Theatre and Dance
Common questions
Answers for people weighing art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary programs in Tennessee.
What degree do you need to become an Art?+
Master's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Music Management, which awarded 332 degrees in Tennessee in 2024-25, 13.8% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming an Art?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 43 programs to this occupation. The largest are Arts, Fine and Studio Arts, Music, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, plus 5 more. Together they graduate about 2,410 people a year in Tennessee.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Tennessee?+
The median is $72,030 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 8.4% below the U.S. median of $78,620. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +1.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, little or no change, with roughly 9,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Tennessee?+
47 institutions in Tennessee reported graduates from at least one of the 43 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Art Professor, Music Professor, Theater Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1121.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card