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Teaching artist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a teaching artist. Teaching artists usually study theatre, fine arts, or music. 71% of teaching artists hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,479 real teaching artist resumes to see exactly what teaching artist education sections show.
The most common colleges for teaching artists are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online teaching artist courses to help get the education required to be a teaching artist.
What education do you need to become a teaching artist?
What degree do you need to be a teaching artist?
- Bachelor's, 71%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 4%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a teaching artist?
Most common colleges for teaching artists
| Teaching artist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 20.46% |
| Columbia College Chicago | 7.93% |
| The New School | 6.65% |
| Syracuse University | 5.37% |
| Temple University | 5.37% |
Best majors for teaching artists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theatre | 24.8% |
| 2 | Fine Arts | 18.5% |
| 3 | Music | 10.7% |
| 4 | Dance | 5.1% |
| 5 | General Education, Specific Areas | 5.1% |
Best colleges for teaching artists
The best colleges for teaching artists are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
A teaching artist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for teaching artists. 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 teaching artists.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,610
Enrollment
40,329
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
4. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$55,188
Enrollment
15,105
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
20 best online courses for teaching artists
Advertising disclosure
1. 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...
2. 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...
3. The Art of Seeing Photography training for the Artist in you
Discover how to see like an artist & take the best photos of your life...
4. The Art of Figure to Ground: Photography's untaught secret
For years, the Art of Figure to Ground was only taught to artists...
5. 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...
6. 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...
7. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
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8. Photoshop and Photography Digital Art Compositing Course
Learn Adobe Photoshop CC and photography by designing levitation digital art composites from four photoshoots...
9. William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: Comedy, Conflict, and Community
This course introduces and explores William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Twelfth Night. Interviews with actors who appeared in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s 2019 production of Twelfth Night, as well as lectures by scholars and theater professionals who work and teach at the University of Colorado Boulder, offer students insight into Shakespeare’s artistic vision and its applications. Exploring Shakespeare’s language, his characters, his humor and his world view, the lectures, interviews,...
10. The Art of Finding Light: Photography for the artist in you
Spotting great lighting is not a gift, it is Skill. Become a photographer who knows how to find great light...
11. Complete Google Classroom Course: Teaching Google Classroom
Mastering the Art of Teaching with Google Classroom - Teaching Online with Google Classroom - Google Certified Educator...
12. Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance
This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...
13. Art History Renaissance to 20th Century
This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...
14. Building Confidence Through Drawing: Art for Beginners
22 Drawing Lessons for Beginners. Course is perfect for engaging after-school activities or homeschool art projects...
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. Fluid Art Mastery: Abstract Flow Art Secrets Revealed
9 Steps To Being A Successful Paint Pouring Artist...
17. The Beginner's Guide to Digital Art with Procreate on iPad!
Learn the basics of digital art on your i Pad with these step-by-step lessons for Procreate, a powerful digital art app!...
18. NFT Artist Masterclass: Join The New World Of Digital Art!
Join The Non-Fungible Token Revolution That Is Finally Giving The Power Back To The Artists, and Creators...
19. Midjourney Mastery: Create Visually Stunning AI Art
Learn to master this revolutionary new medium and create impressive AI Art...
20. Complete Beginner's Guide to Digital Art
Master the foundations of digital drawing and illustration and create art like a pro...
Top 10 most affordable universities for teaching artists
The most affordable schools for teaching artists are University of Florida, california state university - long beach, and hunter college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for teaching artists 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 teaching artists.
1. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
6. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
9. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
10. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for teaching artists
The hardest universities for teaching artists to get into are Northwestern University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Carnegie Mellon University.
Some great schools for teaching artists 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 teaching artists 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. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Cornell University
Ithaca, NY • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,471
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for teaching artists
The easiest schools for teaching artists to get into are Wayland Baptist University, mount saint mary's university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a teaching artist 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 teaching artists.
1. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
10. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
Average teaching artist salary by education level
| Teaching artist education level | Teaching artist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $62,650 |
| Doctorate Degree | $78,515 |
Teaching artist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025