Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, James Madison University and Old Dominion University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,927, College Scorecard. James Madison University, Northern Virginia Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Virginia: 137, 125 and 83 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Virginia colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 737 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 8 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 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,927 | 49 | 86% | — | $26,323 |
| 2 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,501 | 137 | 80% | — | $23,001 |
| 3 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,535 | 57 | 46% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,013 | 26 | 66% | — | $23,250 |
| 5 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,372 | 40 | 96% | — | $19,500 |
| 6 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,308 | 47 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,916 | 83 | 63% | — | $23,374 |
| 8 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,752 | 19 | 89% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Virginia
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 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 137 | $33,501 |
| 2 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 125 | Not reported |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 83 | $21,916 |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 57 | $27,535 |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 49 | $36,927 |
| 6 | Radford University Radford Public | 47 | $23,308 |
| 7 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 40 | $23,372 |
| 8 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 26 | $24,013 |
| 9 | Norfolk State University Norfolk Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 10 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 21 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 20 Virginia colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| William & Mary | Williamsburg | Public | 19 |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | Public | 15 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
James Madison University (137 graduates a year), Northern Virginia Community College (125 graduates a year) and Virginia Commonwealth University (83 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Virginia colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,927, College Scorecard. James Madison University and Old Dominion University follow. By degrees awarded, James Madison University is the largest, with 137 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tops the list at $36,927. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators in Virginia is $53,700 (median $47,930), across about 230 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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