Best Art programs in Washington, 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.
31 schools in Washington run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,582 people a year. The job pays a median of $77,950 in Washington across about 1,400 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Washington that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
46 programs in Washington that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Washington (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 Washington page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 50.0701In Washington → | 229 | 14.5% | 8 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 2 | CIP 50.0401In Washington → | 215 | 13.6% | 11 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 3 | CIP 50.0601In Washington → | 143 | 9.0% | 7 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 4 | CIP 50.0702In Washington → | 120 | 7.6% | 8 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 5 | CIP 50.0913In Washington → | 118 | 7.5% | 3 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 6 | CIP 50.0501In Washington → | 116 | 7.3% | 11 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 7 | CIP 13.1312In Washington → | 99 | 6.3% | 8 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 8 | CIP 50.0703In Washington → | 56 | 3.5% | 9 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 9 | CIP 50.0409In Washington → | 49 | 3.1% | 5 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 10 | CIP 50.1002In Washington → | 40 | 2.5% | 3 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 11 | CIP 50.0602In Washington → | 34 | 2.1% | 3 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 12 | CIP 50.0404In Washington → | 33 | 2.1% | 3 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 13 | CIP 50.0301In Washington → | 31 | 2.0% | 4 | $21,877 | $25,000 |
| 14 | CIP 13.1302In Washington → | 26 | 1.6% | 4 | $43,033 | $26,044 |
| 15 | CIP 50.0407In Washington → | 24 | 1.5% | 3 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 16 | CIP 50.0410In Washington → | 22 | 1.4% | 3 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 17 | CIP 50.0903In Washington → | 21 | 1.3% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 18 | Visual and Performing Arts, Othermain feeder CIP 50.9999In Washington → | 20 | 1.3% | 2 | $24,229 | $25,000 |
| 19 | CIP 50.0904In Washington → | 17 | 1.1% | 5 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 20 | CIP 50.0101In Washington → | 15 | 0.9% | 2 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 21 | CIP 50.0506In Washington → | 14 | 0.9% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 22 | CIP 50.0502In Washington → | 12 | 0.8% | 2 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 23 | CIP 50.0712In Washington → | 12 | 0.8% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 24 | CIP 50.0907In Washington → | 12 | 0.8% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 25 | CIP 50.0406In Washington → | 10 | 0.6% | 1 | $31,611 | $26,000 |
| 26 | CIP 50.1003In Washington → | 10 | 0.6% | 3 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 27 | CIP 50.0709In Washington → | 9 | 0.6% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 28 | CIP 50.0605In Washington → | 8 | 0.5% | 3 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 29 | CIP 50.0699In Washington → | 8 | 0.5% | 1 | $25,014 | $24,650 |
| 30 | CIP 50.0908In Washington → | 8 | 0.5% | 2 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 31 | CIP 50.0507In Washington → | 7 | 0.4% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 32 | CIP 50.0799In Washington → | 6 | 0.4% | 2 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 33 | CIP 50.0905In Washington → | 6 | 0.4% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 34 | CIP 50.0906In Washington → | 6 | 0.4% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 35 | CIP 50.0910In Washington → | 4 | 0.3% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 36 | CIP 50.1001In Washington → | 4 | 0.3% | 2 | $28,050 | $25,468 |
| 37 | CIP 50.0509In Washington → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $20,667 | $24,994 |
| 38 | CIP 50.0902In Washington → | 3 | 0.2% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 39 | CIP 50.0911In Washington → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 40 | CIP 50.0915In Washington → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 41 | CIP 50.0916In Washington → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 42 | CIP 50.0999In Washington → | 2 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
| 43 | CIP 50.0102In Washington → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $24,752 | $25,963 |
| 44 | CIP 50.0708In Washington → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 45 | CIP 50.0711In Washington → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $24,447 | $25,294 |
| 46 | CIP 50.0914In Washington → | 1 | 0.1% | 1 | $25,929 | $25,980 |
Top 25 schools in Washington
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 14 of the 31 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 24 feeder programs | 380 | Art/Art Studies, General | $25,947 | 85% | — | 39% |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · 12 feeder programs | 192 | Art/Art Studies, General | $23,102 | 65% | — | 93% |
| 3 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · 11 feeder programs | 150 | Music Teacher Education | $41,914 | 43% | — | 91% |
| 4 | Shoreline College Shoreline, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 144 | Music Technology | — | 29% | — | — |
| 5 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · 12 feeder programs | 129 | Fine/Studio Arts, General | $26,123 | 54% | — | 91% |
| 6 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · 4 feeder programs | 69 | Graphic Design | $44,823 | 60% | — | 87% |
| 7 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 50 | Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | $25,754 | 69% | $19,944 | 78% |
| 8 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 50 | Film/Cinema/Media Studies | — | 81% | $28,508 | 38% |
| 9 | Seattle Film Institute Seattle, WA Private for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 37 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | $30,789 | 57% | $41,903 | — |
| 10 | Seattle University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs | 36 | Film/Cinema/Media Studies | $30,256 | 76% | $31,900 | 77% |
| 11 | North Seattle College Seattle, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 33 | Fine and Studio Arts Management | — | 33% | — | — |
| 12 | The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 30 | Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts | — | 41% | — | 96% |
| 13 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 10 feeder programs | 30 | Music Performance, General | $25,551 | 68% | $35,057 | 72% |
| 14 | Bates Technical College Tacoma, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 29 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 43% | — | — |
| 15 | Northwest College of Art & Design Tacoma, WA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 26 | Design and Visual Communications, General | $27,694 | 58% | $22,413 | 66% |
| 16 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 25 | Design and Visual Communications, General | $39,248 | 62% | $24,653 | 83% |
| 17 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 25 | Graphic Design | — | 71% | $23,510 | 90% |
| 18 | Seattle Central College Seattle, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 24 | Fashion/Apparel Design | $29,775 | 32% | — | — |
| 19 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 22 | Illustration | — | 37% | — | — |
| 20 | Gonzaga University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 21 | Art/Art Studies, General | — | 86% | $30,006 | 82% |
| 21 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 16 | Visual and Performing Arts, Other | — | 65% | — | 91% |
| 22 | Highline College Des Moines, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 15 | Design and Visual Communications, General | — | 35% | — | — |
| 23 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 11 | Commercial Photography | $21,508 | 32% | — | — |
| 24 | Walla Walla University College Place, WA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 11 | Cinematography and Film/Video Production | — | 60% | $22,260 | — |
| 25 | DigiPen Institute of Technology Redmond, WA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Music Technology | — | 61% | $39,863 | 64% |
All 31 schools in Washington
Every school in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington - Seattle Campus | Seattle | Public | 380 | 24 |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham | Public | 192 | 12 |
| Eastern Washington University | Cheney | Public | 150 | 11 |
| Shoreline College | Shoreline | Public | 144 | 3 |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg | Public | 129 | 12 |
| Washington State University | Pullman | Public | 69 | 4 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 50 | 4 |
| Whitman College | Walla Walla | Private not-for-profit | 50 | 5 |
| Seattle Film Institute | Seattle | Private for-profit | 37 | 4 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 36 | 8 |
| North Seattle College | Seattle | Public | 33 | 1 |
| The Evergreen State College | Olympia | Public | 30 | 3 |
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 30 | 10 |
| Bates Technical College | Tacoma | Public | 29 | 1 |
| Northwest College of Art & Design | Tacoma | Private for-profit | 26 | 1 |
What art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Washington
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $78,620. Washington pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Washington
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 Washington
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 Washington.
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 Art/Art Studies, General, which awarded 229 degrees in Washington in 2024-25, 14.5% 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 46 programs to this occupation. The largest are Fine and Studio Arts, Design and Applied Arts, Music, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, plus 6 more. Together they graduate about 1,582 people a year in Washington.
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary earn in Washington?+
The median is $77,950 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 0.9% 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 Washington?+
31 institutions in Washington reported graduates from at least one of the 46 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
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