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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in North Carolina

14 Colleges in the United States
613 Fine & Studio Arts Degrees Awarded
$30,199 Avg Early-Career Salary

Fine & Studio Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fine & studio arts schools.

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Best Schools for Fine & Studio Arts in North Carolina

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall fine & studio arts education in North Carolina.

Top Schools in Fine & Studio Arts

1

Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best school in the country for a degree in fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 37 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $24,005 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,600 to complete this degree. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

North Carolina State University At Raleigh is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine & studio arts, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 28 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $30,577 in their early career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from North Carolina State University At Raleigh

3
Davidson College crest
Davidson College
Davidson, NC

Davidson College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Davidson. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 12 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Davidson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Davidson College earn around $41,505 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,906. See the full fine & studio arts program report for Davidson College

4
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 97% of students finish within six years. About 22 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Duke University earn around $83,388 in the first couple years of their career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. See the full fine & studio arts program report for Duke University

5

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 70 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $25,855 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

6

Appalachian State University earned the #6 position for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 62 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $22,120. Typical student debt for the program is $21,985. Get the full fine & studio arts details for Appalachian State University

7

East Carolina University earned the #7 position for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. East Carolina University awarded about 98 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from East Carolina University earn around $21,271 in the first couple years of their career. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from East Carolina University

8

University Of North Carolina At Asheville placed #8 among the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates 54% of students within six years. About 41 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Asheville in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $23,504. Students borrow a median of $23,942 to complete this degree. See the full fine & studio arts program report for University Of North Carolina At Asheville

9

Western Carolina University placed #9 among the best fine & studio arts schools. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. Western Carolina University awarded about 43 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Western Carolina University earn around $24,253 in the first couple years of their career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Western Carolina University

10

University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #10 position for fine & studio arts this year. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public school located in the city of Wilmington. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 42 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $43,497 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,672 to complete this degree. Get the full fine & studio arts details for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

11

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro landed the #11 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 87 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $18,745. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. Get the full fine & studio arts details for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

12

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #12 position for fine & studio arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 14 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $40,578 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

13

North Carolina A And T State University landed the #13 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. North Carolina A And T State University awarded about 28 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $15,257 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at North Carolina A And T State University

14

Fayetteville State University landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fayetteville State University awarded about 18 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $16,454 in their early career. Fayetteville State University graduates carry a median of $27,497 in student loans. Get the full fine & studio arts details for Fayetteville State University

15

North Carolina Central University placed #15 among the best fine & studio arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Durham. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 11 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from North Carolina Central University earn around $21,980 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at North Carolina Central University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 37 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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