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# Best Art & Design Colleges in Florida (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Programs in this field[Design and Applied Arts](/rankings/best-design-and-applied-arts-programs-in-florida/)[Drama and Theatre Arts](/rankings/best-drama-and-theatre-arts-programs-in-florida/)[Film, Video and Photographic Arts](/rankings/best-film-video-and-photographic-arts-programs-in-florida/)[Music](/rankings/best-music-programs-in-florida/)

This page ranks the 19 Art & Design schools in Florida by median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. [Florida Southern College](/school/florida-southern-college/majors/) 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](/school/university-of-florida/majors/) 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

19 schools in list order

| 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](/school/florida-southern-college/majors/) reports [$51,925 in median earnings](/school/florida-southern-college/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-central-florida/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 78%](/school/university-of-central-florida/outcomes/) 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,](/school/university-of-florida/cost/) [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/majors/) 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](/school/florida-state-university/majors/) [admits 24% of applicants](/school/florida-state-university/admissions/) 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](/school/florida-gulf-coast-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $43,271](/school/florida-gulf-coast-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/university-of-south-florida/majors/) shows an [average net price of $4,122](/school/university-of-south-florida/cost/) 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](/school/florida-international-university/majors/) [ranks 14th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/florida-international-university/) 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](/school/university-of-north-florida/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 69%](/school/university-of-north-florida/outcomes/) 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](/school/flagler-college/majors/) [admits 81% of applicants](/school/flagler-college/admissions/) 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](/school/florida-atlantic-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $41,138](/school/florida-atlantic-university/outcomes/) 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](/school/stetson-university/majors/) shows a 72% admission rate and a [six-year completion rate of 62%](/school/stetson-university/outcomes/). |
|  | 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](/school/rollins-college/majors/) ranks 13th on this list and reports an [average net price of $34,732](/school/rollins-college/cost/) 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](/school/university-of-west-florida/majors/) [admits 58% of applicants](/school/university-of-west-florida/admissions/) 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](/school/university-of-miami/majors/) holds the lowest admission rate on the page at 19% and [graduates 84% of its students within six years](/school/university-of-miami/outcomes/). |
|  | 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](/school/the-university-of-tampa/majors/) reports [median earnings of $35,827](/school/the-university-of-tampa/outcomes/) 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](/school/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university/majors/) [admits 21% of applicants](/school/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university/admissions/) 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](/school/bethune-cookman-university/majors/) [graduates 31% of its students within six years](/school/bethune-cookman-university/outcomes/) 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.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges/)
-   [Top Art & Design Colleges in California by Earnings](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Kentucky](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-kentucky/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Georgia](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-georgia/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in South Carolina](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-south-carolina/)
-   Art & Design Colleges in Florida for Social Mobility