Arts, design and media
Art Directors
- Median pay
- $114,850
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
ProgramsVisual and Performing Arts
Fine and Studio Arts
CIP50.07
1,052 colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 1,052
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $41,550
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,250
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 139
- Associate's
- 416
- Bachelor's
- 1,052
- Master's
- 272
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 5
- Doctoral
- 58
- First professional
- 1
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 46
What it covers
About Fine and Studio Arts
A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of the visual arts. Includes instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 50.07.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 50.07.
- Art/Art Studies, General
- Fine/Studio Arts, General
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation
- Drawing
- Intermedia/Multimedia
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Printmaking
- Ceramic Arts and Ceramics
- Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts
- Jewelry Arts
- Metal Arts
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 139 | $40,5734 yrs after · 2 colleges | $27,0001 college |
| Associate's | 416 | $32,0324 yrs after · 28 colleges | $11,0007 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 1,052 | $41,5504 yrs after · 411 colleges | $21,250341 colleges |
| Master's | 272 | $49,0534 yrs after · 55 colleges | $41,00024 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 58 | Not reported | Not reported |
| First professional | 1 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 46 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit · 48 graduates
$72,428
debt $19,875
- 2
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit · 21 graduates
$68,523
debt not reported
- 3
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 163 graduates
$66,846
debt $19,708
- 4
Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$63,418
debt not reported
- 5
New London, CT · Private nonprofit · 19 graduates
$61,321
debt not reported
- 6
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · 74 graduates
$60,985
debt $17,420
- 7
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit · 50 graduates
$60,515
debt $27,000
- 8
Vestal, NY · Public · 70 graduates
$60,299
debt $15,875
- 9
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 62 graduates
$59,721
debt $18,250
- 10
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · 60 graduates
$58,652
debt $22,500
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Fine and Studio Arts by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Arts, design and media
Special Effects Artists and Animators
- Median pay
- $102,030
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
Education
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,620
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Speaking
- Instructing
- Learning Strategies
Education
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Median pay
- $72,040
- Outlook
- Little or no change
Bachelor's degree
- Instructing
- Active Listening
- Learning Strategies
Arts, design and media
Artists and Related Workers, All Other
- Median pay
- $71,240
- Outlook
- As fast as average
No formal credential
Business and finance
Appraisers of Personal and Business Property
- Median pay
- $67,960
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Education
Archivists
- Median pay
- $64,550
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Education
Curators
- Median pay
- $63,420
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Master's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
More in Visual and Performing Arts
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Music1,058 colleges
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft862 colleges
- Design and Applied Arts652 colleges
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts427 colleges
- Visual and Performing Arts, General298 colleges
- Dance278 colleges
- Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management230 colleges
- Visual and Performing Arts, Other62 colleges
Questions about Fine and Studio Arts
How many colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Fine and Studio Arts at these degree levels: certificate (139 colleges), associate's (416 colleges), bachelor's (1,052 colleges), master's (272 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (5 colleges), doctoral (58 colleges), first professional (1 college), graduate/professional certificate (46 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Fine and Studio Arts earn $41,550 a year four years after finishing, across 411 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn the most?
University of Southern California reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Fine and Studio Arts: $72,428 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.