by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Art Education explores Art Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Art And Art Appreciation Programs At Various Educational Levels. Read on to learn the essential details every art education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering art education programs.
Nationwide, art education is a widely-pursued major, with 1,860 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Art Education Schools ranking analyzes these 253 schools to determine the best overall colleges for art education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of art education programs later in this article.
Studies in Art Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations art education graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a art education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a art education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several art education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 11 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,088 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 742 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
People currently working in careers related to art education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 43.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 28.7% |
| Master’s degree | 18.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in art education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying art education can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to art education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to art education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of art education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for art education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers art education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 253 different art education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased art education school rankings to help you.
Those considering art education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
| Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education | 1,022 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
