Studio Art Schools in Pennsylvania

Studio art is versatile field that encompasses multiple art forms such as painting, glass, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, and more. Studio art students spend most of their time working in a studio setting where they spend hours honing their craft. While classroom work is a part of a typical studio art program, it is a small part. This lopsided approach to teaching is the reason most studio art graduates leave school with the hands-on skills needed to excel in a variety of fields.

Studio art graduates may work as art directors, art administrators, set designers, animators, art consultants, illustrators, graphic designers, assistant curator, gallery owners, photojournalists, web designers, mural artists, courtroom sketch artists, cover artists, cartoonists, display painters, and more. In the state of Pennsylvania, these, and a number of other careers, are realistic options for studio artists thanks to a lively art and culture scene and one of the highest populations of salaried artists in the country.

Besides having a magnetic art and culture scene, and a positive employment outlook for artists, Pennsylvania is home to a large collection of art and design schools. Many are ranked among the best in the nation. Just a few top schools for aspiring artists include Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Moore College of Art & Design, The University of the Arts, the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, and Penn State.

Pennsylvania Studio Art Schools

According to the most recent report by the National Center for Education Sciences Institute of Education Sciences (NCES IES), the state of Pennsylvania is home to 262 accredited colleges and universities, with a student population of more than 600,000. More than 3,700 students are enrolled in the state’s top art schools alone. Scroll through the list below to find out which Pennsylvania schools are popular among aspiring studio artists and what they have to offer. 

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Art Studio with Concentration in Digital Art

Grantham
Messiah College - Degrees Offered: B. A. Digital Media with Concentration in Art and Design, Church Media, Digital Video and Story, Mobile Application and Game Design; B. A., B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Design and Digital Media

Kutztown
Kutztown University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Communication Design, Studio Art with Concentration in Digital Media

Scranton
Marywood University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Design with Concentration in Graphic Design, B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Illustration; M. F. A. Graphic Design, Illustration

West Chester
Westchester University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Studio Art with Concentration in Graphic Design

More Studio Art related programs to consider:  

Employment and Salary Trends for Pennsylvania Studio Artists

According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state of Pennsylvania is home 63,230 artists and designers. The population has increased significantly since 2002, when the state was home to 50,340. Salaries are up as well. The average salary for Pennsylvania artists and designers is $47,200, up from $38,500 in 2002. It is important to note that salaries for artists vary by field. For example, art directors earn the highest salaries in the industry, according to the most recent report by the Bureau, and craft artists earn one of the lowest salaries.

Some popular occupations for studio artists include fine artist (includes painters, sculptors, illustrators, etc.) and art director. In 2002, Pennsylvania was home to 340 salaried fine artists. Today, the state is home to 240. The good news is salaries are on the rise. In 2002, Pennsylvania’s fine artists averaged $50,500. Today, the average salary is $51,890.

Art directors, on the other hand, have enjoyed a tremendous increase in salaries between 2002 and today. In 2002, Pennsylvania art directors averaged $56,800. Today, the average salary is $82,910. Employment figures are down slightly. In 2002, Pennsylvania was home to 840 art directors. Today, it’s home to 830.

There are more than 1.7 million salaried artists and designers in the U.S. today, up from just over 1.5 million in 2002. Salaries have increased as well. The average salary for artists and designers is $53,850, up from $41,660 in 2002.