by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Drawing covers Drawing. A Program That Prepares Individuals Creatively And Technically To Express Emotions, Ideas, Or Inner Visions Through Representation By Lines Made On A Surface. Includes Instruction In Eye-Hand Coordination; Line, Value, Shape, And Perspective; Figure And Still Life Drawing; The Use Of Media Such As Pen And Ink, Pencil, Charcoal, Pastel, And Brush; And Personal Style Development. Continue reading for the key facts every drawing student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering drawing programs.
Nationwide, drawing is a widely-pursued major, with 254 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Drawing Schools ranking analyzes these 31 schools to determine the best overall colleges for drawing students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of drawing programs later in this article.
Coursework for Drawing emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations drawing graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a drawing program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a drawing major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several drawing 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 | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 24 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 193 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 34 |
People currently working in careers related to drawing tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 32.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.2% |
| Some college courses | 8.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| 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 drawing careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in drawing opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to drawing.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to drawing.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Craft Artists | 402,867 | 5.7% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 147,527 | -4.1% |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | 40,928 | 6.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of drawing graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 drawing graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers drawing grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Craft Artists | $76,826 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $69,338 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $57,836 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 31 different drawing programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased drawing school rankings to help you.
Students interested in drawing, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related 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 |
| Sculpture | 235 |
| Printmaking | 154 |
| Ceramic Arts and Ceramics | 153 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
