What kind of Fine Arts degree should you get?
Do you want to immerse yourself in a culture and community of artistic visionaries? Do you want two to three sustained years of concentrated work on your craft? Finally, do you desire a career that offers both creative freedom and job stability?
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree will help you get there.
One can get a MFA in a diverse range of mediums and genres, from poetry to contemporary dance. While some universities may be known for having strong graduate programs in a single specific area, the programs we've chosen to include below have strong MFAs across departments and disciplines. This is no little thing.
Though arguments against the degree proliferate, the stigma of the MFA is allocated solely to its perceived lack of practicality, despite studies that have proven the MFA not only provides vocational flexibility and adaptability, but it can, in fact, lead to long-term job stability and sustainability.
Sponsored Schools
If flexibility is your thing, then consider an online course of study. We've ranked the top online liberal arts colleges, many of which offer fine arts programs.
How much money do you make with a Fine Arts degree?
The MFA also doesn't have to break the bank. Many of the best programs (below) cover the student's full tuition, offer stipends, and provide teaching and research opportunities to make graduate study in the fine arts affordable. We've been sure to note which schools have funding options.
This means an excellent return on investment once you've landed in the workforce. An affordable online degree can be paid of quickly with the average salary of one with a MFA. PayScale notes that, on average, people with degrees in the fine arts make around $58,000 a year.
What can you do with a fine arts degree?
In a century marked by code and data, the arts are needed now more than ever, and exponentially expanding graduate programs reflect that need and growth. Whether you want to write the next great American novel, perform on Broadway, teach, or get involved in non-profit work, a Master of Fine Arts degree will serve you throughout your life.
What are the requirements for a fine arts degree?
When you pursue your MFA you will have access to a number of high class museums, exhibition spaces, studio labs, studio equipment and supplies, and more. But perhaps the biggest reason to consider the MFA is its known curriculum that emphasizes mentorship. You will be required to work closely with an artist in their field, practicing under them and learning from them. You will then be expected to present your own work quarterly.
Not only will you have the opportunity to work with renowned artists in your field, you will also develop close working relationships with faculty during your studies, and after. Many students remain close with advisors, faculty members, and their program directors far beyond graduation.
What are the best Fine Arts degrees?
Below are the twenty-five best Master of Fine Arts programs in the country. Here at College Choice we've collated and compared the academic reputation, student satisfaction, affordability, and average annual salary of early career artists from MFA programs across the country to create a definitive ranking of the nation's twenty-five best.
We first chose programs with the most renowned academic reputation and from those pared the list down to those with high retention rates (a reflection of student satisfaction) added those with the most economical accessibility, and finally we included the averages of early career salaries (care of PayScale) to arrive at a list distinguished by thorough research and extensive data aggregation.
Our figures come from the university and colleges' websites as well as nationally recognized U.S. News & World Report and The National Center for Education Statistics.
Rankings
See our rankings methodology page.
