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Art educator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an art educator. Art educators usually study fine arts, general education, specific areas, or education. 69% of art educators hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,599 real art educator resumes to see exactly what art educator education sections show.
The most common colleges for art educators are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online art educator courses to help get the education required to be an art educator.
There are certain art educator certifications that you should consider. These art educator certifications include Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:) and Professional Researcher Certification (PRC).
What education do you need to become an art educator?
What degree do you need to be an art educator?
- Bachelor's, 69%
- Master's, 22%
- Associate, 6%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become an art educator?
Most common colleges for art educators
| Art educator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 9.27% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | 9.27% |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 5.96% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 5.30% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.30% |
Best majors for art educators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 26.7% |
| 2 | General Education, Specific Areas | 26.4% |
| 3 | Education | 8.8% |
| 4 | Elementary Education | 7.3% |
| 5 | Graphic Design | 5.7% |
Best colleges for art educators
The best colleges for art educators are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Pennsylvania.
An art educator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for art educators. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become art educators.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
10. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
20 best online courses for art educators
Advertising disclosure
1. Modern Art & Ideas
Welcome to Modern Art & Ideas! This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about modern and contemporary art. Over the next five weeks, you will look at art through a variety of themes: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society. Each week kicks off with a video that connects works of art from The Museum of Modern Art’s collection to the theme. You will hear audio interviews with artists, designers, and curators and learn more about...
2. Agent-based Generative Art | NetLogo
"Generative art refers to any art practice where the artist creates a process, such as a computer program, which is then set into motion with some degree of autonomy contributing to or resulting in a completed work of art." - Wikipedia In this guided project you will develop an agent-based computer program capable of generating visual art pieces. By doing so you will be introduced to the basics of ABM and NetLogo. Furthermore, at the end of this journey you will be able to share such pieces...
3. Photoshop and Photography Digital Art Compositing Course
Learn Adobe Photoshop CC and photography by designing levitation digital art composites from four photoshoots...
4. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...
5. Pixel Art for Video Games
This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games. The course is broken into 4 main modules, props, environments, characters, and animation. Each of these courses will have a series...
6. Low Poly Art For Video Games
This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple 3D art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games. The course is broken into 4 main modules, props, environments, characters, and animation. Each of these courses will have a...
7. Positive Psychology Art Coaching
Art activities for children to help build confidence & selfesteem...
8. Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance
This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...
9. Leading Innovation in Arts and Culture
Developed by David Owens at Vanderbilt University and customized for the cultural sector with National Arts Strategies, this course is designed to help arts and culture leaders create an environment where new ideas are constantly created, shared, evaluated and the best ones are successfully put to work. One of the toughest challenges for any leader is getting traction for new ideas. Winning support can be a struggle. As a result, powerful new ideas often get stuck. This is especially true in...
10. Art Therapy: Art Therapy Exercises For Healing In Life
35 Art Therapy exercises for life happiness & stress management. Art therapy with paintings, art & affirmations...
11. Pixel Art Fundamentals: Introduction to 2D Game Pixel Art
Make 2D Art for Video Games Using Libresprite / Aseprite. Create icons, images, HUD, simple animations and game scenes...
12. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy
Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...
13. Learn Pixel Art for Games
Understand creating Pixel Art for use in Games...
14. Art History Renaissance to 20th Century
This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...
15. Learn to Create Pixel Art for your Games
Improve your pixel art with these simple techniques and principles...
16. The Art of Figure to Ground: Photography's untaught secret
For years, the Art of Figure to Ground was only taught to artists...
17. Create and Sell Digital Art using AI [Passive Income]
Learn to Generate amazing arts & graphics using AI and turn it into a business by selling art and freelance services...
18. Midjourney Mastery: Create Visually Stunning AI Art
Learn to master this revolutionary new medium and create impressive AI Art...
19. Complete Beginner's Guide to Digital Art
Master the foundations of digital drawing and illustration and create art like a pro...
20. Create And Sell AI Art: Make Money With AI Art
Learn how to turn this new technology into a profitable business...
Top 10 most affordable universities for art educators
The most affordable schools for art educators are California State University - Long Beach, university of florida, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for art educators are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for art educators.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
4. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
5. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
10. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for art educators
The hardest universities for art educators to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for art educators are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for art educators based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
8. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
10. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for art educators
The easiest schools for art educators to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, barry university, and notre dame college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an art educator without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for art educators.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
6. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
7. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
9. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
10. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
Average art educator salary by education level
| Art educator education level | Art educator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $38,193 |
| Doctorate Degree | $47,170 |
Art educator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025