by our College Data Analytics TeamArt Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 372 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for art education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
The art education program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Art Education Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Art Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall art education education, regardless of degree level.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best art education schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 13 art education degrees in the most recent data year. See the full art education program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes California State University Long Beach one of the top schools for art education. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 17 art education degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,982. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans. Read more about the art education program at California State University Long Beach
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in art education, ranking #3. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 16 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Art Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $51,105 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Read more about the art education program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the top schools for art education. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. Cuny Hunter College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 art education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art education degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $61,604 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree. Get the full art education details for Cuny Hunter College
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the top schools for art education. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 13 art education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $61,164. Students borrow a median of $13,178 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in art education from Cuny Brooklyn College
Florida State University earned the #6 position for art education this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 art education students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $54,079. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500. Read more about the art education program at Florida State University
Cuny Queens College landed the #7 spot for art education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Queens. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 art education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art education program make about $67,212 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete this degree. See the full art education program report for Cuny Queens College
The College Of New Jersey ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best art education schools. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 art education degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Graduates of the art education program make about $60,604 in their early career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the art education program at The College Of New Jersey
New York University earned the #9 position for art education this year. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 12 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from New York University generally make around $56,866. Typical student debt for the program is $25,403. Read more about the art education program at New York University
Boston University earned the #10 position for art education this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 22 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Art Education graduates of Boston University earn a median of $67,277 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree. See the full art education program report for Boston University
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #11 among the best art education schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 art education students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Art Education graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete this degree. See the full art education program report for Rochester Institute Of Technology
Adelphi University earned the #12 position for art education this year. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Adelphi University awarded about 46 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Art Education graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $48,402 early in their careers. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. See the full art education program report for Adelphi University
University Of Florida landed the #13 spot for art education this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 45 art education degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Art Education graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $51,476 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,275 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in art education from University Of Florida
State University Of New York At New Paltz earned the #14 position for art education this year. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 32 art education degrees were awarded at State University Of New York At New Paltz in the most recent year. Art Education graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $51,668 early in their careers. State University Of New York At New Paltz graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. More information about a degree in art education from State University Of New York At New Paltz
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for art education this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 art education students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their art education degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $49,282 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree. Read more about the art education program at Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #16 among the best art education schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 19 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $45,966. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the art education program at University Of Wisconsin Madison
Cuny City College landed the #17 spot for art education this year. This large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 17 art education degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the art education program make about $73,336 in their early career. Cuny City College graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans. See the full art education program report for Cuny City College
Teachers College At Columbia University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best art education schools. Teachers College At Columbia University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. There were roughly 35 art education students who graduated with this degree at Teachers College At Columbia University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Teachers College At Columbia University generally make around $82,636. More information about a degree in art education from Teachers College At Columbia University
Northern Arizona University placed #19 among the best art education schools. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 13 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the art education program make about $49,856 in their early career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $22,009 in student loans. See the full art education program report for Northern Arizona University
Temple University came in at #20 for art education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Temple University graduates 75% of students within six years. About 22 art education degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Students who receive their art education degree from Temple University earn around $54,736 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full art education program report for Temple University
Ball State University placed #21 among the best art education schools. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ball State University awarded about 14 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Art Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $49,745 early in their careers. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,998 in student loans. More information about a degree in art education from Ball State University
University Of Vermont placed #22 among the best art education schools. University Of Vermont is a large public school located in the city of Burlington. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 12 art education degrees were awarded at University Of Vermont in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of Vermont generally make around $41,099. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Get the full art education details for University Of Vermont
Depaul University came in at #23 for art education this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Depaul University awarded about 14 art education degrees in the most recent data year. Art Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $52,130 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. More information about a degree in art education from Depaul University
Miami University Oxford earned the #24 position for art education this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 14 art education students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $46,681. Typical student debt for the program is $24,560. More information about a degree in art education from Miami University Oxford
Rhode Island School Of Design landed the #25 spot for art education this year. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 13 art education degrees were awarded at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent year. Graduates of the art education program make about $29,894 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,943 to complete this degree. Read more about the art education program at Rhode Island School Of Design
These schools also placed among the best for art education this year:
These schools also earned a top-quality badge for art education this year:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| #59 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI |
Explore the best art education schools by region.
Explore other rankings in majors related to Art Education. See all related rankings.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 372 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.