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Fine arts teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a fine arts teacher. Fine arts teachers usually study fine arts, general education, specific areas, or education. 69% of fine arts teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 461 real fine arts teacher resumes to see exactly what fine arts teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for fine arts teachers are the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus and the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus.
There are also many online fine arts teacher courses to help get the education required to be a fine arts teacher.
What education do you need to become a fine arts teacher?
What degree do you need to be a fine arts teacher?
- Bachelor's, 69%
- Master's, 20%
- Associate, 6%
- Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 3%
What should I major in to become a fine arts teacher?
Most common colleges for fine arts teachers
| Fine arts teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus | 7.84% |
| University of Houston | 5.88% |
| The University of the Arts | 5.88% |
| Southern Connecticut State University | 5.88% |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 5.88% |
Best majors for fine arts teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 32.3% |
| 2 | General Education, Specific Areas | 15.2% |
| 3 | Education | 8.4% |
| 4 | Elementary Education | 6.1% |
| 5 | Graphic Design | 5.7% |
Best colleges for fine arts teachers
The best colleges for fine arts teachers are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Pennsylvania.
A fine arts teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for fine arts teachers. 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 fine arts teachers.
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 fine arts teachers
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. Positive Psychology Art Coaching
Art activities for children to help build confidence & selfesteem...
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. 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...
7. Learn Pixel Art for Games
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8. Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance
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9. 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...
10. 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...
11. 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...
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. Complete Beginner's Guide to Digital Art
Master the foundations of digital drawing and illustration and create art like a pro...
14. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...
15. 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...
16. Art for Beginners: Learn to Paint 11 Acrylic Paintings
How to Paint with Acrylic Paints: 11 Simple Step-by-Step Art Lessons Designed Especially for Beginners of All Ages...
17. Learn to Create Pixel Art for your Games
Improve your pixel art with these simple techniques and principles...
18. Art History Renaissance to 20th Century
This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...
19. The Art of Figure to Ground: Photography's untaught secret
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20. How to Make Printable Art To Sell On Etsy
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Top 10 most affordable universities for fine arts teachers
The most affordable schools for fine arts teachers are California State University - Long Beach, university of florida, and brooklyn college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for fine arts teachers 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 fine arts teachers.
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 fine arts teachers
The hardest universities for fine arts teachers to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for fine arts teachers 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 fine arts teachers 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 fine arts teachers
The easiest schools for fine arts teachers 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 a fine arts teacher 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 fine arts teachers.
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 fine arts teacher salary by education level
| Fine arts teacher education level | Fine arts teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $48,056 |
| Doctorate Degree | $55,839 |
Fine arts teacher education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025