by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you enjoy creating masterpieces and believe it is the best way to express yourself, you may be a Fine and Studio Arts major.
Majoring in Fine and Studio Arts allows students to take classes in the many disciplines within the field including painting, sculpting, art history, drawing, photography, painting, illustration, graphic design, and digital media. The variety of classes allows you to try different art mediums in order to find what you are most interested in. These classes will also improve your technique and teach you express yourself.
Fine and Studio Arts is a field with many areas of specialization. You may choose to concentrate in more specific areas such as Art History, Drawing, Multimedia, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Ceramic Arts and Ceramics, Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts, and Metal and Jewelry.
A degree in Fine & Studio Arts covers Fine And Studio Arts. Read on to learn the essential details every fine & studio arts major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering fine & studio arts programs.
Across the country, fine & studio arts draws strong interest, with 37,770 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools ranking analyzes these 1,338 schools to determine the best overall colleges for fine & studio arts students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of fine & studio arts programs later in this article.
Coursework for Fine & Studio Arts emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations fine & studio arts graduates commonly enter.
Students in the fine arts field usually have some amount of natural talent and experience working in one or more artistic mediums. They have passion for art and enjoy working with their hands to create things. Their creativity and imagination allows them to form unique pieces of art that express the emotion of the artist. Students in this field have good interpersonal and communication skills because they will be required to speak with gallery owners and the general public to sell their artwork.
This field can lead to either a part or full time job. Those who work full time are typically employed in commercial art studios or with performing arts centers, while other artists are self-employed or are commissioned by clients to create pieces.
Depending on the area of study to wish to follow, a college degree may not be necessary. Some artists only take a few classes to improve skills and techniques, while others need a degree to be hired. By working in and internship or summer job, you will learn what type of education you need for a successful career.
The skill set emphasized by a fine & studio arts program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a fine & studio arts major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several fine & studio arts 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 | 4,250 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,108 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 24,445 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,630 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 212 |
People currently working in careers related to fine & studio arts tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 33.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 16.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 6.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in fine & studio arts careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Fine and Studio Arts graduates work for a number of different companies including commercial art studios, manufacturing companies, performing arts companies, and art galleries. Some graduates have decided to be self-employed and are commissioned to create pieces. Artists who rely on selling art to make a living may have a difficult time and need to work an extra job.
A degree in fine & studio arts prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to fine & studio arts.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to fine & studio arts.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Curators | 1,554,871 | 4.1% |
| Archivists | 1,193,221 | 1.6% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Gem and Diamond Workers | 797,991 | 3.9% |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | 663,221 | 0.0% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers | 486,359 | -1.5% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of fine & studio arts graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $25,613 |
| 4 years | $36,289 |
| 5 years | $41,536 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for fine & studio arts graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers fine & studio arts grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | $118,242 |
| Art Directors | $103,285 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $96,273 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $83,610 |
| Curators | $79,764 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Craft Artists | $76,826 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
With 1,338 different fine & studio arts programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased fine & studio arts school rankings to help you.
Students interested in fine & studio arts, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Art/Art Studies, General | 18,711 |
| Fine/Studio Arts, General | 12,013 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 3,557 |
| Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other | 751 |
| Intermedia/Multimedia | 732 |
| Painting | 607 |
| Jewelry Arts | 483 |
| Drawing | 254 |
| Sculpture | 235 |
| Printmaking | 154 |
| Ceramic Arts and Ceramics | 153 |
| Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts | 107 |
| Metal Arts | 13 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| 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 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 67 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
