by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you enjoy using your hands to create unique works of art, the Crafts, Folk Art, and Artisanry major is for you.
Students working towards this degree learn different techniques that allow them to work with materials such as glass, pottery, wood, and textiles to create one of a kind crafts to be sold. You will take a variety of specialized classes in art history, ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpting, woodworking and more to improve your skills and learn the history and methods of varying types of handcrafts.
Studying Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry explores Crafts/craft Design, Folk Art And Artisanry. Read on to learn the key facts every crafts, folk art & artisanry major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering crafts, folk art & artisanry programs.
In the U.S., crafts, folk art & artisanry draws strong interest, with 67 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry Schools ranking analyzes these 9 schools to determine the best overall colleges for crafts, folk art & artisanry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of crafts, folk art & artisanry programs later in this article.
Programs in Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations crafts, folk art & artisanry graduates commonly enter.
Craft, Folk Art, and Artisanry professionals are often extremely creative and are able to constantly create new and unique pieces of art. A close attention to detail and passion for perfection helps professionals craft high quality products that are desired by collectors and art enthusiasts. Most students in this field have previous experience and skill in crafts, art, and artisanry.
Careers in Crafts, Folk Art, and Artisanry are both full and part time. Often artists have another job while working on their craft. However, some artists work full time for commercial art studios or woodworking companies. Those who are full time work typical work hours, while those who are part time or self-employed work irregular hours, sometimes in the evenings or on weekends.
Professionals in the Crafts, Folk Art, and Artisanry field typically only need a high school degree. However, some craft professionals decide to pursue additional classes to sharpen skills, while woodworkers are trained on the job. A bachelor's degree may allow students to find a full time job, but often previous experience is more helpful.
Skills developed in a crafts, folk art & artisanry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a crafts, folk art & artisanry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several crafts, folk art & artisanry 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 | 12 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 9 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 40 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to crafts, folk art & artisanry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 36.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.3% |
| Some college courses | 4.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in crafts, folk art & artisanry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Graduates who pursue careers as woodworkers often work for cabinetmakers or bench carpenters, while crafters and artisans work for glass and clay manufacturing companies, commercial art studios, or performing art studios. Other graduates are self-employed and create crafts that they sell at shows.
Majoring in crafts, folk art & artisanry prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to crafts, folk art & artisanry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to crafts, folk art & artisanry.
| 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% |
| Craft Artists | 402,867 | 5.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of crafts, folk art & artisanry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,413 |
| 4 years | $34,343 |
| 5 years | $37,661 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for crafts, folk art & artisanry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers crafts, folk art & artisanry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $83,610 |
| Craft Artists | $76,826 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 9 different crafts, folk art & artisanry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased crafts, folk art & artisanry school rankings to help you.
Students interested in crafts, folk art & artisanry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 67 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37,770 |
| Music | 25,853 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 18,927 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,640 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,225 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,430 |
| Dance | 3,274 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 941 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
