Painting: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Painting is a dynamic and expressive discipline focused on the creation of visual art through the deliberate application of pigments to various surfaces. This program equips students with the technical proficiency and creative insight needed to communicate complex emotions, conceptual ideas, and personal visions through the medium of paint.
- Color and color mixing: Explores the science and artistry behind hue, saturation, and value, enabling students to manipulate color relationships for expressive and compositional impact.
- Surface preparation: Teaches foundational techniques for priming and treating supports such as canvas, wood, and paper to ensure durability and optimal paint adhesion.
- Composition: Develops skills in arranging visual elements to guide the viewer’s eye and convey narrative, balance, and emotional resonance within a two-dimensional space.
- Oil and acrylic media: Provides hands-on experience with the distinct properties, drying times, and application methods of oil and acrylic paints, including layering and glazing techniques.
- Watercolor media: Focuses on the unique characteristics of transparent pigments, wash techniques, and controlled water usage to achieve luminous, fluid effects.
- Painting techniques: Covers a broad range of methods including brushwork, palette knife application, splattering, and masking, allowing for diverse textural and stylistic outcomes.
- Personal style development: Encourages artistic exploration and self-reflection to cultivate a distinctive visual voice and consistent creative identity.
Painting Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Painting Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Painting degrees, including Special Effects Artists and Animators, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary and Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators. 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 133,540 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artists and Animators 27-1014 | $99,800 | $57,220 - $174,630 | 21,280 | $47.98 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1121 | $80,190 | $47,040 - $194,530 | 97,890 | N/A |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 27-1013 | $60,560 | $26,420 - $140,660 | 10,000 | $29.12 |
| Craft Artists 27-1012 | $38,480 | $22,620 - $65,850 | 4,370 | $18.50 |
Painting Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $46,977 in Kentucky to $129,330 in Hawaii—a 175% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, California, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 133,540 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 Painting by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 50 institutions offering Painting 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 Painting is found at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (67 graduates), Pratt Institute, Main (53 graduates), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) (51 graduates), Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) (38 graduates), and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (34 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 607 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
67 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
53 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| New York Academy of Art (NYAA) |
Master's
|
29 | New York, New York | Private | nyaa.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Purchase, New York | Public | purchase.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
18 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | kcai.edu |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati (AAC) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | artacademy.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | pafa.org |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| Montserrat College of Art |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | montserrat.edu |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art |
Master's
|
9 | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | Private | cranbrookart.edu |
| Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Cleveland, Ohio | Private | cia.edu |
| University of Puget Sound (UPS) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Tacoma, Washington | Private | pugetsound.edu |
| Oakland University (OU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Rochester Hills, Michigan | Public | oakland.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | San German, Puerto Rico | Private | sg.inter.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | mcad.edu |
| Alfred University |
Master's
|
5 | Alfred, New York | Private | alfred.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| College of the Ozarks (C of O) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Point Lookout, Missouri | Private | cofo.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
|
4 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Portland, Oregon | Private | willamette.edu |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry (TCL) |
Other Award
|
4 | Beaufort, South Carolina | Public | tcl.edu |
| University of Dallas (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Irving, Texas | Private | udallas.edu |
| Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico (EAPD) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | eap.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Dine College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Tsaile, Arizona | Public | dinecollege.edu |
| Franklin College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Franklin, Indiana | Private | franklincollege.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Marywood University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Master's
|
2 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Saint Ambrose University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Davenport, Iowa | Private | sau.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Carson-Newman University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jefferson City, Tennessee | Private | cn.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Painting programs
How much can I earn with a Painting degree?
Salaries for Painting graduates vary by role and location. Special Effects Artists and Animators earn a median of $99,800 annually, while Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $80,190. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $129,330 compared to $46,977 in Kentucky. Approximately 133,540 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 Painting programs?
Currently 50 accredited institutions offer Painting degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) (67 graduates), Pratt Institute, Main (53 graduates), and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) (51 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 Painting growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 978 in 2010 to a peak of 739 in 2020, before declining slightly to 607 in 2023-24. This represents a 38% 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 Painting degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Special Effects Artists and Animators, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, and Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators. Related occupations employ approximately 133,540 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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