Best Art & Design Colleges in Ohio (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 29 Art & Design programs in Ohio by the median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. Across the 19 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $60,935 at Miami University-Oxford to $16,663, with a median of $37,688.
For 4 of the 29 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 12 public and 17 private nonprofit institutions. Ohio State University-Main Campus ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and also posts the highest six-year completion rate on the page at 88%. Youngstown State University reports the lowest average net price, at $12,767.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Art & Design Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH | $60,935 | $28,384 | $16,015 | 75.4% |
| Miami University-Oxford reports $60,935 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing, the top figure on this list, alongside an average net price of $28,384. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (59 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (25 graduates), Music (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($67,981), Fine and Studio Arts ($55,891) | |||||
| 2 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH | No published median | $25,648 | $17,974 | 85.3% |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus ranks 2nd on this page and posts a six-year completion rate of 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (219 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (70 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (62 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($71,605), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($54,000), Fine and Studio Arts ($37,025) | |||||
| 3 | University of Dayton · Dayton, OH | No published median | $29,533 | $21,736 | 65.5% |
| A private nonprofit university in Dayton, University of Dayton admits 65% of applicants and holds an average net price of $29,533. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (18 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (6 graduates), Music (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($66,679) | |||||
| 4 | Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH | $49,978 | $20,787 | $15,280 | 86.3% |
| Kent State University at Kent shows $49,978 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $15,280 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (250 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (58 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($56,540), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($36,429), Fine and Studio Arts ($35,710) | |||||
| 5 | Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH | No published median | $17,339 | $4,885 | 60.6% |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus graduates 88% within six years, reports an average net price of $17,339, and ranks 90th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (85 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (48 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (42 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($68,151), Music ($51,310), Fine and Studio Arts ($46,899) | |||||
| 6 | Cedarville University · Cedarville, OH | No published median | $24,468 | $18,987 | 65.3% |
| Cedarville University ranks 6th on this list, with an admission rate of 65% and a six-year completion rate of 73%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (45 graduates), Music (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($51,813) | |||||
| 7 | Kenyon College · Gambier, OH | No published median | $38,512 | $18,242 | 31.0% |
| Kenyon College admits 31% of applicants and reports an average net price of $18,242 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (23 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (15 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (9 graduates) | |||||
| 8 | Columbus College of Art & Design · Columbus, OH | $46,310 | $29,439 | $24,204 | 67.7% |
| Columbus College of Art & Design reports $46,310 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 56%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (123 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (18 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($48,204), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($43,661), Fine and Studio Arts ($32,061) | |||||
| 9 | Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH | $44,698 | $24,022 | $18,396 | 81.0% |
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus shows $44,698 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $24,022. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (59 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (39 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($54,274), Visual and Performing Arts, General ($46,944), Music ($44,037) | |||||
| 10 | Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH | $43,308 | $21,637 | $15,673 | 85.0% |
| Ohio University-Main Campus ranks 10th on this page, with an admission rate of 85% and an average net price of $15,673 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (42 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (35 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($49,553), Music ($44,593), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($42,796) | |||||
| 11 | Cleveland Institute of Art · Cleveland, OH | $43,288 | $29,208 | $23,423 | 61.4% |
| Cleveland Institute of Art reports $43,288 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 61%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (65 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (25 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (11 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | Capital University · Columbus, OH | $43,125 | $22,576 | $19,062 | 70.2% |
| Capital University shows $43,125 in median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 60%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (28 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (5 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($43,125) | |||||
| 13 | Mount Vernon Nazarene University · Mount Vernon, OH | $40,641 | $22,421 | $22,358 | 84.2% |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University reports median earnings of $40,641 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate reaches 68%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (6 graduates) | |||||
| 14 | Oberlin College · Oberlin, OH | No published median | $38,645 | $18,774 | 34.2% |
| Oberlin College admits 34% of applicants and carries an average net price of $38,645. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (140 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (35 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($43,343) | |||||
| 15 | Baldwin Wallace University · Berea, OH | No published median | $27,603 | $21,296 | 75.7% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 67%, Baldwin Wallace University ranks 1059th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (31 graduates), Music (30 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($36,251) | |||||
| 16 | Art Academy of Cincinnati · Cincinnati, OH | $38,077 | $34,253 | $33,835 | 34.5% |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati posts median earnings of $38,077 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 34%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (25 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (15 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($42,224), Fine and Studio Arts ($31,166) | |||||
| 17 | Cleveland State University · Cleveland, OH | $37,688 | $14,764 | $11,958 | 91.3% |
| A public university in Cleveland, Cleveland State University shows an average net price of $14,764 and a six-year completion rate of 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Film/Video and Photographic Arts (60 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (17 graduates), Music (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($46,635), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($37,745), Fine and Studio Arts ($36,603) | |||||
| 18 | Cleveland Institute of Music · Cleveland, OH | $37,656 | $28,226 | $23,782 | 47.3% |
| Cleveland Institute of Music reports median earnings of $37,656 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its admission rate stands at 47%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (45 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | Mount St. Joseph University · Cincinnati, OH | $36,941 | $16,530 | $11,689 | 59.1% |
| Mount St. Joseph University reports median earnings of $36,941 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, and an average net price of $11,689 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (7 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | Wright State University-Main Campus · Dayton, OH | $35,979 | $15,415 | $11,952 | 96.3% |
| Wright State University-Main Campus admits 96% of applicants and reports median earnings of $35,979 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (38 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (24 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($35,148), Fine and Studio Arts ($34,704) | |||||
| 21 | Shawnee State University · Portsmouth, OH | $35,757 | $14,381 | $12,310 | Not reported |
| Graduating 48% of its students within six years, Shawnee State University reports median earnings of $35,757 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (29 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (11 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | University of Toledo · Toledo, OH | $35,458 | $17,249 | $13,524 | 92.0% |
| University of Toledo carries an average net price of $17,249 and reports median earnings of $35,458 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (19 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (5 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($33,409) | |||||
| 23 | University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH | No published median | $13,946 | $10,413 | 59.7% |
| An admission rate of 60% and a six-year completion rate of 52% accompany University of Akron Main Campus's position at 407th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (31 graduates), Music (22 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($50,484), Fine and Studio Arts ($36,233) | |||||
| 24 | Ohio Northern University · Ada, OH | $34,445 | $24,478 | $18,525 | 74.4% |
| Ohio Northern University reports median earnings of $34,445 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and a six-year completion rate of 75%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (12 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (6 graduates) | |||||
| 25 | Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH | No published median | $12,767 | $9,328 | 84.5% |
| Youngstown State University reports an average net price of $12,767 and admits 84% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (26 graduates), Music (15 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($36,539) | |||||
| 26 | Otterbein University · Westerville, OH | No published median | $19,237 | $12,458 | 84.5% |
| Otterbein University admits 85% of applicants and graduates 68% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (20 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (15 graduates), Music (8 graduates) | |||||
| 27 | Ohio Wesleyan University · Delaware, OH | $23,649 | $20,897 | $15,412 | 55.6% |
| Ohio Wesleyan University reports median earnings of $23,649 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 59%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (7 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (6 graduates) | |||||
| 28 | Denison University · Granville, OH | $18,966 | $40,007 | $16,656 | 17.4% |
| Denison University is the most selective school on the page, admitting 17% of applicants, and its Art & Design graduates earn a median of $18,966 two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (9 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (8 graduates), Music (5 graduates) | |||||
| 29 | The College of Wooster · Wooster, OH | $16,663 | $23,458 | $12,512 | 59.5% |
| The College of Wooster ranks 926th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a six-year completion rate of 74%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (13 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (9 graduates), Music (6 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 Ohio appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 4 of the 29 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 19 schools with a published figure. The spread from Miami University-Oxford to University of Cincinnati-Main Campus is $44,272.