Craft Design and Artisanry: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Explore the art and craft of handmade creation through a dynamic curriculum centered on traditional and contemporary artisanal practices. This program cultivates advanced skills in material manipulation, design innovation, and cultural expression across diverse handcraft disciplines.
- Textile Design and Fiber Arts: Investigate the structural and aesthetic principles behind weaving, embroidery, dyeing, and other fabric-based techniques, emphasizing both historical methods and modern applications.
- Woodworking and Furniture Craft: Develop precision in shaping, joining, and finishing wood to create functional and sculptural objects, grounded in both technical mastery and design theory.
- Ceramics and Sculptural Form: Engage with clay as a medium through hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, and firing processes, exploring form, surface, and expressive potential.
- Metalwork and Jewelry Making: Learn techniques such as forging, casting, soldering, and polishing to produce intricate and wearable art pieces with attention to detail and material integrity.
- Folk Art Traditions and Cultural Context: Examine regional and historical craft practices, understanding how cultural narratives, symbolism, and community heritage inform artistic expression.
- Design Thinking and Creative Process: Apply iterative methods to conceptualize, prototype, and refine craft projects, integrating research, sketching, and material experimentation.
Craft Design and Artisanry Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Craft Design and Artisanry Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Craft Design and Artisanry degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Artists and Related Workers, All Other and Craft Artists. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 109,630 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other 27-1019 | $72,760 | $33,720 - $133,180 | 7,370 | $34.98 |
| Craft Artists 27-1012 | $38,480 | $22,620 - $65,850 | 4,370 | $18.50 |
Craft Design and Artisanry Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $42,960 in Nevada to $103,145 in Hawaii—a 140% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 109,630 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Craft Design and Artisanry by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 9 institutions offering Craft Design and Artisanry programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Craft Design and Artisanry is found at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (27 graduates), Haywood Community College (HCC) (17 graduates), College for Creative Studies (CCS) (8 graduates), Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) (5 graduates), and University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock), Little Rock (3 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 67 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Haywood Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
17 | Clyde, North Carolina | Public | haywood.edu |
| College for Creative Studies (CCS) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | collegeforcreativestudies.edu |
| Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Morganton, North Carolina | Public | wpcc.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Other Award
|
3 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| Holy Apostles College and Seminary |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cromwell, Connecticut | Private | holyapostles.edu |
| Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
2 | Hazard, Kentucky | Public | hazard.kctcs.edu |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| Montserrat College of Art |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | montserrat.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Craft Design and Artisanry programs
How much can I earn with a Craft Design and Artisanry degree?
Salaries for Craft Design and Artisanry graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Artists and Related Workers, All Other earn around $72,760. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $103,145 compared to $42,960 in Nevada. Approximately 109,630 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Craft Design and Artisanry programs?
Currently 9 accredited institutions offer Craft Design and Artisanry degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (27 graduates), Haywood Community College (HCC) (17 graduates), and College for Creative Studies (CCS) (8 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Craft Design and Artisanry growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 235 in 2010 to a peak of 129 in 2020, before declining slightly to 67 in 2023-24. This represents a 71% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Craft Design and Artisanry degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Artists and Related Workers, All Other, and Craft Artists. Related occupations employ approximately 109,630 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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