by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 645 U.S. colleges awarded 12,239 degrees and certificates in Fine Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 293 schools in its 2027 Best Fine Arts 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.
Studying Fine Arts involves the study of Fine/studio Arts, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Generally Function As Creative Artists In The Visual And Plastic Media. Includes Instruction In The Traditional Fine Arts Media (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Cad/cam) And/or Modern Media (Ceramics, Textiles, Intermedia, Photography, Digital Images), Theory Of Art, Color Theory, Composition And Perspective, Anatomy, The Techniques And Procedures For Maintaining Equipment And Managing A Studio, And Art Portfolio Marketing.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., fine arts is a popular field of study, with 12,239 degrees awarded annually. 645 colleges award fine arts degrees, an average of 19 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 779.
By level, the 12,239 awards include 19 certificates, 946 associate degrees, 9,986 bachelor’s degrees and 1,284 master’s degrees.
Women earned 75% of fine arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,222 of 12,239). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (6,165) and Hispanic or Latino (2,306), and international students earned 843.
College Factual ranks 293 schools in its 2027 Best Fine Arts Schools ranking, including 35 for associate degrees, 248 for bachelor’s degrees and 42 for master’s degrees. It also ranks fine arts schools within 44 states. In all, 645 colleges offer fine arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Fine Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common fine arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 9,986 of the 12,239 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to fine arts call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Learning, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a fine arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 946 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9,986 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,284 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to fine arts, at 43.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 43.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Fine Arts, with an average median salary of $66,644; the strongest outlook belongs to Artists and Related Workers, All Other, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Theater Teacher, Assistant Professor, Voice Teacher and Orchestra Teacher.
The occupation related to fine arts with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | 427,793 | 13.9% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 147,527 | -4.1% |
Fine Arts 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to fine arts, with a median salary of $83,610.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $83,610 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $69,338 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
Fine Arts has 12 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 27,403 degrees a year; the largest are Art/Art Studies, General (19,675), Art History, Criticism and Conservation (3,681) and Intermedia/Multimedia (804). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Art/Art Studies, General | 19,675 |
| 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 |
| Ceramic Arts and Ceramics | 175 |
| Printmaking | 170 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
