by our College Data Analytics TeamPainting was the 517th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 646 degrees in this year alone. This 93 less than the prior year, a decrease of 14.4%.
Our 2023 Best Painting Schools ranking analyzes 46 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for painting students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of painting programs later in this article.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in painting is giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most painting degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Specific painting careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Painting degree levels vary. Painting programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest painting degree you can get. Painting programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to painting, with approximately 31.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to painting tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 26.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 23.9% |
| Some College Courses | 16.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.3% |
| High School Diploma | 8.9% |
Most workers in painting have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in painting careers have.
This of course varies depending on which painting career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your painting degree? Painting careers are expected to grow 9.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to painting.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Multimedia Artists and Animators | 79,900 | 8.4% |
| Fine Artists | 29,900 | 6.8% |
| Craft Artists | 13,100 | 4.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for painting graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for painting graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers painting grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Multimedia Artists and Animators | $78,230 |
| Fine Artists | $58,370 |
| Craft Artists | $40,490 |
With over 101 different painting degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased painting school rankings to help you with this.
One of 12 majors within the Fine & Studio Arts area of study, Painting has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Art Studies | 18,323 |
| Fine Arts | 11,922 |
| Art History | 3,512 |
| Other Fine Arts & Art Studies | 837 |
| Intermedia/Multimedia | 805 |
Image Credit: By Jorge Royan under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
