by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 45 U.S. colleges awarded 175 degrees and certificates in Ceramic Arts & Ceramics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Ceramic Arts & Ceramics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $25,576 one year after completing, rising to $42,406 after four years.
A major in Ceramic Arts & Ceramics covers Ceramic Arts And Ceramics. A Program That Prepares Individuals Creatively And Technically To Express Emotions, Ideas, Or Inner Visions By Producing Art Works Out Of Clay And Similar Materials. Includes Instruction In Handbuilt And Wheelthrown Techniques; Molding; Slips And Glazes; Trimming And Decorating; Firing And Kiln Operation; Oxidation; Mixed Media; Ceramic Murals; And Personal Style Development.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, ceramic arts & ceramics is a popular field of study, with 175 degrees awarded annually. 45 colleges award ceramic arts & ceramics degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 15.
By level, the 175 awards include 8 certificates, 19 associate degrees, 64 bachelor’s degrees and 84 master’s degrees.
Women earned 81% of ceramic arts & ceramics degrees and certificates in the latest year (141 of 175). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (107) and Hispanic or Latino (26), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Ceramic Arts & Ceramics Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks ceramic arts & ceramics schools within 2 states. In all, 45 colleges offer ceramic arts & ceramics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ceramic Arts & Ceramics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ceramic arts & ceramics credential is the master’s degree: 84 of the 175 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ceramic arts & ceramics call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Originality, Oral Expression and Near Vision.
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How long a ceramic arts & ceramics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 19 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 64 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 84 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to ceramic arts & ceramics, at 32.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 32.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.3% |
| Some college courses | 8.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.6% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Ceramic Arts & Ceramics, with an average median salary of $64,382; the strongest outlook belongs to Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 9.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Singing Teacher, Instructor, Adjunct Lecturer and Arts and Crafts Instructor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to ceramic arts & ceramics, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Craft Artists | 402,867 | 5.7% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 147,527 | -4.1% |
Ceramic Arts & Ceramics graduates earn a median $25,576 one year after completing their program, $42,406 after four years and $41,309 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,576 |
| 4 years | $42,406 |
| 5 years | $41,309 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to ceramic arts & ceramics is Craft Artists, with a median salary of $76,826.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Craft Artists | $76,826 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $69,338 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Ceramic Arts & Ceramics has 12 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 39,467 degrees a year; the largest are Art/Art Studies, General (19,675), Fine/Studio Arts, General (12,239) and Art History, Criticism and Conservation (3,681). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Art/Art Studies, General | 19,675 |
| Fine/Studio Arts, General | 12,239 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 3,681 |
| Intermedia/Multimedia | 804 |
| Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other | 802 |
| Jewelry Arts | 727 |
| Painting | 652 |
| Drawing | 371 |
| Sculpture | 239 |
| Printmaking | 170 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
