What can you do with a Studio Art degree?

First, some facts. Of the Studio Art graduates we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 61 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Slightly below average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 62%, Studio Art graduates have a slightly lower likelihood (-5%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 62%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 27% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Studio Art graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Studio Art graduate and our analysis:


Relevance score: 72%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2017 from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Studio Art. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Dance Instructor
Gotta Dance! School of Performing Arts Inc.
Jul 2018 - Jun 2019
While the dance instructor role may involve some artistic elements, it primarily focuses on dance and movement rather than the core skills and knowledge acquired in a Studio Art degree.

Professional Art Educator
HOPEWELL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Aug 2017 - Aug 2019
The position of professional art educator directly utilizes the skills and knowledge gained from a Studio Art degree, as it involves teaching art and facilitating creativity in students.

Sales Associate
Lilly Pulitzer
Oct 2019 - Oct 2020
The sales associate role at Lilly Pulitzer does not require or utilize artistic knowledge or skills specific to Studio Art, focusing instead on retail and customer service.

Marketing Intern
Content Journey
Apr 2022 - Jun 2022
The marketing intern position is unrelated to Studio Art, as it primarily emphasizes marketing strategies and business-related tasks rather than artistic skills.

Small Business Owner
Always Home LLC
Aug 2020 - Present
As a small business owner, the individual may apply some creative skills developed in the Studio Art program, but the role primarily involves business management and entrepreneurship rather than direct art application.

Professional Art Educator
Fairfax County Public Schools
Aug 2019 - Present
The professional art educator role at Fairfax County Public Schools utilizes the specific skills and knowledge from a Studio Art degree, focusing on teaching and facilitating art education.

ABOUT

Professional Art Educator with digital art and graphic design experience. Strong arts and design professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Studio Art. Currently enrolled in a Masters of Science (M.S.) program with a focus in digital marketing.

What jobs can you get with a Studio Art degree?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


When you dive into the world after earning a degree in Studio Art, you'll notice a real mix of career paths that graduates tend to follow. A significant number of these jobs find a solid relationship with the skills encountered in a Studio Art program, particularly in areas like graphic design, art education, and visual media. Many graduates become designers or take up roles that involve direct creative output, such as graphic designers, motion graphics artists, and 3D animators. It’s clear that a lot of the jobs directly utilize the artistic and technical skills fostered during their studies, especially those focused on practical design and animation work.

However, not all paths taken by Studio Art graduates seem to be relevant to their educational background. Positions like e-commerce specialists, sales associates, and administrative roles do pop up fairly frequently and often don’t lean on artistic training. Despite these roles sometimes incorporating a touch of creativity, they generally veer away from the core competencies associated with a Studio Art degree. Moreover, various roles in marketing and communication, while they might require some degree of artistic vision, often end up focusing more on logistics and business strategies rather than pure art-making or design skills.

In a nutshell, while there is a strong presence of roles that align nicely with the essence of Studio Art, there is a noticeable portion dedicated to positions that don't fully utilize the skill set honed during studies. The ideal scenario for graduates would generally be to seek out creative roles that engage their artistic talents, ideally leading to fulfilling careers that leverage the unique perspective they acquired during their education. Balancing the wide range of opportunities available post-graduation with a quest for authentic artistic engagement is key to making the most of a Studio Art degree.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Studio Art graduates:

What kind of career trajectories do Studio Art graduates have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Analyzing the career trajectories of Studio Art graduates from various colleges reveals a mixed bag of outcomes. Many of these individuals start off in roles that, while relatively modest or entry-level, still align with their artistic backgrounds. Jobs like designers, instructors, and various creative positions pop up quite frequently as first roles after graduation. For example, we see graduates working as graphic designers, art instructors, and outreach coordinators fairly early in their careers. It's clear that these entry-level positions often lay a solid foundation for building creative skills and gaining experience in the field.

However, the picture becomes more complicated as we look at their paths five to ten years post-graduation. While some graduates do manage to climb the ladder and secure more prominent or specialized roles—like senior managers or leads within creative companies—a significant number seem to have drifted into unrelated fields or less promising positions. For instance, there are graduates who appear to have bounced around through various odd jobs or remain entrenched in roles that don’t fully leverage their art degrees. This suggests that while a Studio Art degree can open certain doors, it doesn't guarantee a seamless transition into desirable and relevant positions within the art world. In fact, there’s a notable trend of graduates ending up in jobs that are a far cry from their educational background, ranging from administrative roles to sales positions.

In summary, while many Studio Art graduates begin their careers in related fields and do find some success, a good number seem to settle for roles that don't utilize their talents or degrees in any meaningful way, especially as time progresses. This discrepancy raises some important questions about the career support and opportunities available to new graduates. Whether they find fulfillment and relevance in their careers often depends on individual circumstances, skills, and perhaps a bit of luck in navigating the job market. So, if you’re considering going into Studio Art, it might be a good idea to think about how you can apply your skills in various ways and be open to diverse pathways to make the most of your degree.

How hard is a Studio Art degree?

A Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art can be a real mixed bag when it comes to difficulty. On one hand, if you're passionate about creating and have a good eye for design, you might find the classes enjoyable and engaging, which can make the workload feel easier. However, you’ll also have to deal with intense critique sessions, long hours spent on projects, and the challenge of developing your own unique style, which can definitely be tough. So, while it’s not necessarily a walk in the park, if you’re committed and love what you’re doing, it can be a rewarding experience that feels less daunting than some other majors. Just be ready to put in the work and keep pushing your creativity to the next level!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Studio Art.

Do Studio Art graduates tend to make good money?

When looking at the job trajectories of these Studio Art graduates, it seems like there’s a mixed bag in terms of income potential. For instance, the grad from NYU has moved up the ladder in a big consulting company and is now at The Pokémon Company, which likely promises a pretty decent paycheck. On the other hand, someone like the High Point University grad has primarily taught at an art studio, which typically doesn't pay as well, especially compared to positions in graphic design or production management seen with grads from places like California State University. Overall, those who've landed roles in tech or management are likely doing better financially, while those leaning into teaching or freelance work may not be seeing the same financial benefits.

It's clear that job stability and income in the arts can heavily depend on the path you take. The ones with some advanced roles or who have successfully freelanced in high-demand areas, like animation or graphic design, may be making a decent living. But those stuck in entry-level or part-time positions—especially in education or internships—might be struggling a bit more to make ends meet. So, while there are definitely success stories, many art grads will find they have to hustle to turn their passion into a profitable career.

What buzzwords do Studio Art graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Studio Art. This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Studio Art?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Studio Art (ordered by the average relevance score of their Studio Art graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count