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Arts administrator education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an arts administrator. Arts administrators usually study fine arts, music, or business. 68% of arts administrators hold a bachelor's degree, and 15% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 245 real arts administrator resumes to see exactly what arts administrator education sections show.
The most common colleges for arts administrators are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online arts administrator courses to help get the education required to be an arts administrator.
What education do you need to become an arts administrator?
What degree do you need to be an arts administrator?
- Bachelor's, 68%
- Master's, 15%
- Associate, 10%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become an arts administrator?
- Fine Arts, 21%
- Music, 11%
- Business, 8%
- Graphic Design, 7%
- Other Majors, 53%
Most common colleges for arts administrators
| Arts administrator common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 7.32% |
| Smith College | 7.32% |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | 7.32% |
| School of Visual Arts | 7.32% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | 7.32% |
Best majors for arts administrators
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 20.7% |
| 2 | Music | 11.3% |
| 3 | Business | 8.0% |
| 4 | Graphic Design | 7.3% |
| 5 | Communication | 7.3% |
Best colleges for arts administrators
The best colleges for arts administrators are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
An arts administrator with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for arts administrators. 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 arts administrators.
1. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
6. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
7. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$53,948
Enrollment
17,238
9. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
10. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
In-state tuition
$53,430
Enrollment
5,963
20 best online courses for arts administrators
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. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...
4. 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...
5. 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...
6. 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...
7. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy
Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...
8. 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...
9. ART of the MOOC: Activism and Social Movements
This course is for activists, artists, and thinkers who wish to better understand and participate in social change. We will focus on the prolific and exciting overlap between socially engaged art and cultural practices generated by recent social movements around the world. Rather than assess the political efficacy of activities like mourning, listening, organizing, dancing, or partying, the lectures examine such cultural activities next to, and within, contemporary art practice. Included in the...
10. 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...
11. Positive Psychology Art Coaching
Art activities for children to help build confidence & selfesteem...
12. Art Therapy: Art Therapy Exercises For Healing In Life
35 Art Therapy exercises for life happiness & stress management. Art therapy with paintings, art & affirmations...
13. Learn Pixel Art for Games
Understand creating Pixel Art for use in Games...
14. Create And Sell AI Art: Make Money With AI Art
Learn how to turn this new technology into a profitable business...
15. How To Sell Your Art Online With ETSY
Learn How To Successfully List, Sell & Market Art On ETSY...
16. DALL•E Mastery: Create Impressive AI Art
Learn to master this revolutionary new art form and create visually stunning art...
17. Pixel art for Video games
The essential course for creating stunning pixel art graphics for video-games or stylish illustrations and designs...
18. Sell Your Art Masterclass
Learn how to make a real income by selling your original artwork online to customers all around the world...
19. Essential Tools for Windows System Administrators
[Windows] [System Administration] Learn Windows Builtin Tools & Open Source Tools for Efficient System Administration...
20. How to Make Printable Art To Sell On Etsy
A Complete Beginner's Course Creating a Simple Printable Art Design From Start to Finish Using FREE Graphic Design Tools...
Top 10 most affordable universities for arts administrators
The most affordable schools for arts administrators are University of Florida, california state university - bakersfield, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for arts administrators 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 arts administrators.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
5. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
9. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
10. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for arts administrators
The hardest universities for arts administrators to get into are Stanford University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for arts administrators 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 arts administrators 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. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
6. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
7. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
9. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
10. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for arts administrators
The easiest schools for arts administrators to get into are Notre Dame de Namur University, wayland baptist university, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an arts administrator 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 arts administrators.
1. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
2. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
5. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
6. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
7. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
8. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
9. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
10. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
Average arts administrator salary by education level
| Arts administrator education level | Arts administrator salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $62,212 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $54,526 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,266 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $55,155 |
Arts administrator education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025