Art Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Art Education is a comprehensive academic field dedicated to equipping future educators with the knowledge, skills, and pedagogical strategies necessary to foster artistic growth and cultural understanding in learners across diverse educational environments. This program emphasizes the development of both creative practice and instructional expertise, preparing professionals to inspire critical thinking, visual literacy, and artistic expression in students of all ages.
- Studio Art Techniques: Hands-on training in foundational and advanced methods across media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital art, cultivating technical proficiency and personal creative voice.
- Art History and Cultural Context: In-depth study of artistic movements, historical developments, and global perspectives, enabling educators to connect artworks to broader social, political, and cultural narratives.
- Curriculum Development and Instructional Design: Training in creating age-appropriate, standards-aligned lesson plans and assessment strategies that integrate creativity, critical analysis, and inclusive pedagogy.
- Art Education Theory and Philosophy: Exploration of foundational and contemporary frameworks that shape teaching practices, including constructivist learning, equity in arts access, and the role of art in holistic education.
- Assessment and Evaluation in the Arts: Methods for measuring student progress in creative and interpretive domains, emphasizing formative feedback, portfolio development, and reflective practice.
- Technology in Art Instruction: Integration of digital tools, multimedia platforms, and emerging technologies to expand creative possibilities and enhance classroom engagement and accessibility.
Art Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Art Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Art Education degrees, including Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. 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 1,849,890 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 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2022 | $62,970 | $47,050 - $100,980 | 620,370 | N/A |
Art Education Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,235 in Oklahoma to $96,768 in California—a 75% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,849,890 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 Art Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Art Education 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 Art Education is found at University of North Texas (UNT) (63 graduates), Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) (56 graduates), Adelphi University (46 graduates), University of Florida (UF) (45 graduates), and CUNY Queens College (42 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,507 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
63 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
Other Award
|
45 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
42 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
33 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
26 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
24 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
|
22 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
22 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) |
Master's
|
21 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | mica.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | massart.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
19 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
17 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Menomonie, Wisconsin | Public | uwstout.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) |
Master's
|
13 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | risd.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
12 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
12 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) |
Master's
|
11 | Portland, Maine | Private | meca.edu |
| The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Master's
|
11 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Master's
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Lakewood, Colorado | Private | rmcad.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) |
Master's
|
10 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | saic.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Moore College of Art and Design |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | moore.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Master's
|
10 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
9 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Carlow University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | carlow.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
|
9 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | New Haven, Connecticut | Public | southernct.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| George Mason University |
Master's
|
8 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
7 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Plymouth State University (PSU) |
Master's
|
7 | Plymouth, New Hampshire | Public | plymouth.edu |
| Russell Sage College |
Master's
|
7 | Troy, New York | Private | sage.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Potsdam, New York | Public | potsdam.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Public | uscupstate.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Fitchburg State University |
Master's
|
6 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Public | fitchburgstate.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Seton Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Private | setonhill.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYUH) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Laie, Hawaii | Private | byuh.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Art Education programs
How much can I earn with a Art Education degree?
Salaries for Art Education graduates vary by role and location. Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $80,190 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $96,768 compared to $55,235 in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,849,890 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 Art Education programs?
Currently 253 accredited institutions offer Art Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of North Texas (UNT) (63 graduates), Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) (56 graduates), and Adelphi University (46 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 Art Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,667 in 2010 to 1,860 in 2023-24. This represents a 30% 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 Art Education degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,849,890 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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