Best Art & Design Colleges in Florida (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 19 Art & Design schools in Florida by median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. Florida Southern College ranks 1st on this list, reporting $51,925 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing.
Across the 13 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $51,925 to $35,827, with a median of $42,786.
The list includes 10 public and 9 private nonprofit institutions. University of Florida posts the lowest average net price at $6,541, and it also reports the highest six-year completion rate at 91%.
Florida International University ranks 14th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Art & Design Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Southern College · Lakeland, FL | $51,925 | $28,551 | $23,624 | 64.4% |
| Florida Southern College reports $51,925 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and ranks 1st on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (10 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, General (9 graduates), Music (8 graduates) | |||||
| 2 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $49,931 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
| University of Central Florida posts a six-year completion rate of 78% alongside median earnings of $49,931 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (403 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (192 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (192 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($46,779), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($41,255), Music ($39,898) | |||||
| 3 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $48,715 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
| With an average net price of $6,541, University of Florida also shows a 91% six-year completion rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (82 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (66 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, General (56 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($65,656), Music ($61,446), Dance ($42,624) | |||||
| 4 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $46,672 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
| Florida State University admits 24% of applicants and its Art & Design graduates earn a median of $46,672 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (137 graduates), Music (107 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (55 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($73,888), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($46,180), Music ($44,454) | |||||
| 5 | Ringling College of Art and Design · Sarasota, FL | $43,475 | $57,742 | $47,261 | 69.7% |
| Ringling College of Art and Design carries an average net price of $47,261 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 5th on this page. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (118 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (57 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($47,937), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($41,024) | |||||
| 6 | Florida Gulf Coast University · Fort Myers, FL | $43,271 | $12,568 | $8,220 | 63.4% |
| Florida Gulf Coast University reports median earnings of $43,271 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, with a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (24 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (18 graduates), Music (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($43,271) | |||||
| 7 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $42,786 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
| University of South Florida shows an average net price of $4,122 for families earning under $30,000 and a 43% admission rate. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (92 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (25 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, Other (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($54,770), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($45,671), Fine and Studio Arts ($38,820) | |||||
| 8 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $41,653 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
| Florida International University ranks 14th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $41,653 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (96 graduates), Music (39 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($40,653), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($33,896) | |||||
| 9 | University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL | $41,292 | $10,154 | $6,647 | 53.2% |
| University of North Florida posts a six-year completion rate of 69% and an average net price of $10,154. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (86 graduates), Music (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($43,804) | |||||
| 10 | Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL | $41,230 | $30,525 | $21,733 | 80.8% |
| Flagler College admits 81% of applicants and its Art & Design graduates earn a median of $41,230 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (39 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (27 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($46,921) | |||||
| 11 | Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL | $41,138 | $8,752 | $3,022 | 66.1% |
| Florida Atlantic University reports median earnings of $41,138 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $3,022 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (90 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (22 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($46,606) | |||||
| 12 | Stetson University · Deland, FL | $39,246 | $19,372 | $15,931 | 71.6% |
| Stetson University shows a 72% admission rate and a six-year completion rate of 62%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (43 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, General (21 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($41,298), Visual and Performing Arts, General ($35,045) | |||||
| 13 | Rollins College · Winter Park, FL | No published median | $34,732 | $27,177 | 47.5% |
| Rollins College ranks 13th on this list and reports an average net price of $34,732 alongside a six-year completion rate of 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (32 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (17 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates) | |||||
| 14 | University of West Florida · Pensacola, FL | No published median | $9,364 | $4,815 | 58.2% |
| A public university in Pensacola, University of West Florida admits 58% of applicants and posts an average net price of $9,364. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (59 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (17 graduates), Music (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($42,115) | |||||
| 15 | University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL | No published median | $37,244 | $15,978 | 18.9% |
| University of Miami holds the lowest admission rate on the page at 19% and graduates 84% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (90 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (60 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (26 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($52,032), Music ($29,090) | |||||
| 16 | The University of Tampa · Tampa, FL | $35,827 | $36,211 | $30,011 | 40.3% |
| The University of Tampa reports median earnings of $35,827 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 64%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (34 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (25 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($42,090) | |||||
| 17 | Jacksonville University · Jacksonville, FL | No published median | $25,180 | $21,893 | 56.9% |
| Jacksonville University ranks 599th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and carries an average net price of $25,180. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (17 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (15 graduates), Dance (9 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL | No published median | $13,739 | $13,299 | 20.6% |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University admits 21% of applicants and shows an average net price of $13,299 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (18 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (11 graduates), Music (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($35,817) | |||||
| 19 | Bethune-Cookman University · Daytona Beach, FL | No published median | $12,030 | $10,896 | 88.2% |
| Bethune-Cookman University graduates 31% of its students within six years and admits 88% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (10 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Art & Design graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Art & Design earnings cohort in Florida appear. The figure is the median for federally aided Art & Design completers who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost of attendance, or the characteristics of the students a school admits, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 13 schools with a published figure. Florida Southern College leads the list at $51,925, and the gap to second-ranked University of Central Florida is $1,994.