Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
Southern Methodist University, Texas Woman's University and Texas Tech University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Texas by graduate earnings. Southern Methodist University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,154, College Scorecard. University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Arlington and University of Houston award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Texas: 329, 128 and 118 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 72 Texas colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 2,046 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 10 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 | Southern Methodist University Dallas Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,154 | 36 | 84% | $33,246 | — |
| 2 | Texas Woman's University Denton Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,115 | 41 | 49% | — | $26,019 |
| 3 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,428 | 62 | 69% | — | $27,846 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,088 | 107 | 89% | — | $24,057 |
| 5 | Sam Houston State University Huntsville Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,999 | 32 | 55% | — | $31,000 |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,445 | 91 | 55% | — | $26,928 |
| 7 | University of North Texas Denton Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,067 | 329 | 61% | — | $24,000 |
| 8 | University of Houston Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,482 | 118 | 65% | — | $21,845 |
| 9 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,362 | 71 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | University of Houston-Clear Lake Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,274 | 53 | 52% | — | $21,369 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Paso Community College El Paso Public · Associate degree | $9,347 | 47 | 24% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Texas
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 North Texas Denton Public | 329 | $27,067 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Public | 128 | $25,156 |
| 3 | University of Houston Houston Public | 118 | $26,482 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 107 | $32,088 |
| 5 | The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio Public | 105 | $23,551 |
| 6 | Texas State University San Marcos Public | 91 | $28,445 |
| 7 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg Public | 89 | $21,891 |
| 8 | Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches Public | 71 | $25,362 |
| 9 | The University of Texas at El Paso El Paso Public | 70 | $19,506 |
| 10 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 62 | $34,428 |
ShowHide the other 62 Texas colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
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 Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
University of North Texas (329 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Arlington (128 graduates a year) and University of Houston (118 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 72 Texas colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, Southern Methodist University leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $38,154, College Scorecard. Texas Woman's University and Texas Tech University follow. By degrees awarded, University of North Texas is the largest, with 329 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Southern Methodist University tops the list at $38,154. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Texas is $53,410 (median $49,650), across about 700 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
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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