Online Art and Design Degree

Art and Design Degree Overview

If you are an artistic and creative person who likes to bring ideas to life, you might consider getting a degree in Art and Design. From designing clothes and marketing products to computer animation and interior design, there are plenty of Art and Design careers that will suit your interests and skill set.

Colleges and universities offering online degrees or certificates in Art and Design along with a detailed list of the programs that are offered, are listed below. Details about tuition, financial aid, course offerings, online classes, and other options are available by request. To find information about campus-based college programs, click here.

Outlook for Art and Design Careers

Growing and Popular Areas of Art and Design

Art and design related careers are fairly popular. For example, 92,200 people work as interior designers, 54,000 people work as craft or fine artists, 21,900 people work as fashion designers, and 267,200 people work as graphic designers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics*.

The need for new employees in art and design fields is expected to go up by 2% over the next decade, which is as fast as the national average. The slowest growing art and design field is floral design, which is expected to see a decrease in the number of jobs, and one of the faster growing fields is animation and multimedia art. With an increasing demand for animation and other visual effects in movies, television, video games, and more, employment opportunities will increase for animators*.

Take a look at the following design careers and their predicted job growth through 2026:

• Predicted Job Growth
• Art Director: 5%
• Craft and Fine Artists: 3%
• Fashion Designers: 5%
• Floral Designers: -10%
• Graphic Designers: 2%
• Industrial Designers: 3%
• Interior Designers: 4%
• Multimedia Artists and Animators: 4%

Skills Needed in the Art and Design Industry

It takes a lot more than unique ideas and an artistic eye to be successful in a creative industry. You need to employ practical skills while still maintaining the ability to be innovative and think out of the box. Although the design world can be fun, flexible, and creative, there is a level of passion and learned expertise needed to build a solid career in the industry.

Some of these skills include being tech-savvy, project managing, networking, and communication. Learn more about other art and design skills that are in demand and lead to good careers.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/home.htm. Visited 10/2024.

Salaries in Art and Design

High-paying jobs are available within various positions in the art and design field. However, to maximize potential earnings, you will need the right education and experience to qualify for the career you select. In an art or design profession, a higher level degree and greater experience will usually lead to a higher starting salary.

After a few years in an art or design career, your salary will likely increase as your skills improve, you develop more experience in the field, and as you gain more notoriety.

Career Forecast for Salary

The list below shows the median art and design salaries for various careers. Art directors, followed by animators, have a higher median pay than most jobs in the Art and Design industry.

Median Industry Salaries

• Art Director: $92,500
• Craft and Fine Artists: $52,910
• Fashion Designers: $79,290
• Graphic Designers: $58,910
• Industrial Designers: $76,250
• Interior Designers: $62,510
• Multimedia Artists and Animators: $99,060

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/home.htm. Visited 10/2024.

Education Requirements for Careers in Design