Best Art & Design Colleges in Texas (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 39 Art & Design schools in Texas by the median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. Across the 22 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $57,117 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville to $22,295, with a median of $45,860.
For 4 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
Public institutions account for 69% of the list, with 27 schools alongside 12 private nonprofits. Texas A & M International University posts the lowest average net price at $3,637, while Rice University reports the highest six-year completion rate at 95%.
The University of Texas at Arlington ranks 8th 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 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville · Kingsville, TX | $57,117 | $12,090 | $10,207 | 90.9% |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville reports $57,117 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $12,090. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (32 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($57,117) | |||||
| 2 | Texas A&M University-College Station · College Station, TX | $57,002 | $21,315 | $12,784 | 57.4% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 84%, Texas A&M University-College Station ranks 2nd on this list and posts median earnings of $57,002 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (10 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | East Texas A&M University · Commerce, TX | No published median | $11,841 | $9,709 | 92.2% |
| East Texas A&M University ranks 3rd on this list and admits 92% of applicants, with an average net price of $9,709 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (48 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (19 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (13 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($55,438) | |||||
| 4 | Texas Woman's University · Denton, TX | No published median | $11,963 | $9,948 | 96.1% |
| Texas Woman's University ranks 118th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports a six-year completion rate of 49%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (30 graduates), Dance (24 graduates), Music (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Dance ($53,072), Fine and Studio Arts ($52,306) | |||||
| 5 | University of North Texas · Denton, TX | $52,035 | $15,649 | $12,311 | 72.2% |
| University of North Texas reports median earnings of $52,035 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $15,649. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (227 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (211 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (119 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($57,753), Music ($55,705), Dance ($49,063) | |||||
| 6 | Tarleton State University · Stephenville, TX | $51,942 | $20,783 | $15,574 | 89.6% |
| Tarleton State University ranks 6th on this list with median earnings of $51,942 four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 48%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (21 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (11 graduates) | |||||
| 7 | Texas State University · San Marcos, TX | $51,338 | $16,805 | $12,715 | 89.3% |
| Texas State University admits 89% of applicants and reports median earnings of $51,338 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (149 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (103 graduates), Music (92 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($61,539), Dance ($53,057), Music ($52,320) | |||||
| 8 | Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX | No published median | $36,660 | $17,956 | 44.5% |
| A private nonprofit university in Fort Worth, Texas Christian University ranks 8th on this list and reports an average net price of $17,956 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (52 graduates), Music (28 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($42,483) | |||||
| 9 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | No published median | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| The University of Texas at Austin ranks 9th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 27% of applicants, with a six-year completion rate of 89%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (116 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (106 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (72 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($69,846), Visual and Performing Arts, General ($53,829), Fine and Studio Arts ($47,730) | |||||
| 10 | University of Houston · Houston, TX | No published median | $14,276 | $10,929 | 73.9% |
| University of Houston ranks 10th on this list and reports an average net price of $14,276, with a six-year completion rate of 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (84 graduates), Music (77 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (51 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($64,612), Music ($56,667), Fine and Studio Arts ($45,446) | |||||
| 11 | Midwestern State University · Wichita Falls, TX | $49,896 | $11,656 | $8,856 | 93.5% |
| Midwestern State University reports median earnings of $49,896 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $11,656. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (19 graduates), Music (13 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (9 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | Abilene Christian University · Abilene, TX | $49,818 | $26,182 | $20,285 | 66.0% |
| Abilene Christian University admits 66% of applicants and reports median earnings of $49,818 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (12 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (11 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (8 graduates) | |||||
| 13 | The University of Texas at Arlington · Arlington, TX | $49,419 | $13,951 | $11,893 | 79.9% |
| The University of Texas at Arlington reports $49,419 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing and holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on this list, 8th among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (160 graduates), Music (67 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($59,198), Fine and Studio Arts ($47,106) | |||||
| 14 | Baylor University · Waco, TX | $49,321 | $41,104 | $22,024 | 51.3% |
| Baylor University, a private nonprofit university in Waco, admits 51% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 80%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Film/Video and Photographic Arts (36 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (31 graduates), Music (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($63,522), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($45,706) | |||||
| 15 | Sam Houston State University · Huntsville, TX | $47,645 | $16,404 | $12,474 | 90.3% |
| With an average net price of $16,404, Sam Houston State University ranks 15th on this page and reports median earnings of $47,645 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (50 graduates), Music (48 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($58,743), Design and Applied Arts ($57,019), Dance ($48,568) | |||||
| 16 | Texas Tech University · Lubbock, TX | No published median | $19,070 | $12,457 | 72.7% |
| Texas Tech University carries an average net price of $19,070 and graduates 69% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (59 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (45 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($57,043), Fine and Studio Arts ($50,892) | |||||
| 17 | Lamar University · Beaumont, TX | No published median | $9,366 | $7,568 | 86.4% |
| Lamar University lists an average net price of $9,366 and graduates 37% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (18 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (15 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($53,904) | |||||
| 18 | The University of Texas at San Antonio · San Antonio, TX | $46,070 | $10,836 | $7,870 | 86.8% |
| The University of Texas at San Antonio reports $46,070 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing and admits 87% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (76 graduates), Music (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($53,878), Fine and Studio Arts ($41,550) | |||||
| 19 | The University of Texas at Tyler · Tyler, TX | $45,651 | $13,323 | $10,307 | 94.0% |
| The University of Texas at Tyler posts a six-year completion rate of 54% and an average net price of $10,307 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (10 graduates), Music (10 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | Stephen F Austin State University · Nacogdoches, TX | $45,573 | $14,260 | $10,318 | 94.0% |
| Stephen F Austin State University ranks 20th on this list with median earnings of $45,573 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 94%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (76 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (73 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (41 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($52,341), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($41,450), Fine and Studio Arts ($38,042) | |||||
| 21 | Saint Edward's University · Austin, TX | No published median | $25,578 | $20,799 | 81.4% |
| Saint Edward's University, a private nonprofit university in Austin, reports a six-year completion rate of 63% and an average net price of $25,578. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (35 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (15 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($54,297), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($47,974) | |||||
| 22 | Dallas Baptist University · Dallas, TX | No published median | $28,516 | $25,326 | 88.8% |
| Dallas Baptist University admits 89% of applicants and carries an average net price of $25,326 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (24 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (15 graduates), Music (6 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | West Texas A & M University · Canyon, TX | No published median | $19,487 | $16,525 | 98.7% |
| West Texas A & M University ranks 458th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 55% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (28 graduates), Music (23 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($48,656), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($47,175) | |||||
| 24 | Texas A & M International University · Laredo, TX | $41,314 | $3,637 | $3,097 | 44.4% |
| Texas A & M International University reports $41,314 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing and holds the lowest average net price on the page at $3,637. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (13 graduates), Music (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($33,313) | |||||
| 25 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · Edinburg, TX | No published median | $4,831 | $3,785 | 94.2% |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reports an average net price of $3,785 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 11th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (100 graduates), Music (48 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($59,218), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($38,865), Fine and Studio Arts ($35,115) | |||||
| 26 | University of the Incarnate Word · San Antonio, TX | No published median | $22,775 | $19,260 | 98.1% |
| University of the Incarnate Word, a private nonprofit university in San Antonio, admits 98% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (21 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (17 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($48,472) | |||||
| 27 | Texas Wesleyan University · Fort Worth, TX | No published median | $24,066 | $21,812 | 69.2% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 32%, Texas Wesleyan University ranks 837th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (9 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (7 graduates), Music (6 graduates) | |||||
| 28 | The University of Texas at El Paso · El Paso, TX | No published median | $9,403 | $7,863 | 99.9% |
| The University of Texas at El Paso admits 100% of applicants and reports an average net price of $7,863 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (64 graduates), Music (29 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($36,854) | |||||
| 29 | University of Houston-Clear Lake · Houston, TX | $38,330 | $15,563 | $7,330 | 90.5% |
| University of Houston-Clear Lake reports median earnings of $38,330 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $15,563. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (50 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($38,330) | |||||
| 30 | Rice University · Houston, TX | $38,289 | $13,370 | $5,827 | 8.0% |
| Rice University reports median earnings of $38,289 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing and holds the six-year completion rate of 95%, the top figure on this page. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (24 graduates), Music (17 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (8 graduates) | |||||
| 31 | The University of Texas at Dallas · Richardson, TX | $37,825 | $18,267 | $12,814 | 65.1% |
| The University of Texas at Dallas reports median earnings of $37,825 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing and has a six-year completion rate of 76%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (332 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Visual and Performing Arts, General ($37,825) | |||||
| 32 | University of Houston-Downtown · Houston, TX | $37,668 | $10,542 | $9,439 | 90.0% |
| University of Houston-Downtown reports an average net price of $9,439 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $37,668 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Visual and Performing Arts, General ($37,668) | |||||
| 33 | Angelo State University · San Angelo, TX | $34,802 | $15,091 | $12,008 | 83.0% |
| Angelo State University admits 83% of applicants and reports median earnings of $34,802 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (16 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (7 graduates), Music (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($34,802) | |||||
| 34 | Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi · Corpus Christi, TX | No published median | $15,225 | $11,445 | 88.6% |
| Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi ranks 310th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $15,225. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (24 graduates), Music (21 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($41,773), Fine and Studio Arts ($32,043) | |||||
| 35 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | No published median | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
| Southern Methodist University posts a six-year completion rate of 84% and an average net price of $23,544 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (30 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (27 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($35,844) | |||||
| 36 | Prairie View A & M University · Prairie View, TX | $29,685 | $13,570 | $12,120 | 79.3% |
| Prairie View A & M University reports median earnings of $29,685 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing and an average net price of $13,570. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (17 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (13 graduates) | |||||
| 37 | Lubbock Christian University · Lubbock, TX | No published median | $24,456 | $23,018 | 73.1% |
| Lubbock Christian University, a private nonprofit university in Lubbock, admits 73% of applicants and reports a six-year completion rate of 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (10 graduates) | |||||
| 38 | Trinity University · San Antonio, TX | $27,295 | $23,464 | $10,356 | 25.9% |
| Trinity University reports $27,295 in median earnings for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 26%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates), Music (6 graduates) | |||||
| 39 | Texas Lutheran University · Seguin, TX | $22,295 | $24,654 | $20,512 | 95.7% |
| Ranking 39th on this list, Texas Lutheran University posts a median of $22,295 for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing and an average net price of $24,654. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (14 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 Texas appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 4 of the 39 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 22 schools with a published figure. Texas A&M University-Kingsville leads at $57,117, just $115 ahead of Texas A&M University-College Station at $57,002, while the spread from top to bottom reaches $34,822.