Visual Art Schools in Maryland

Maryland is one of the smallest states based on land size, but it is the 19th largest state based on population. According to the Census Bureau’s 2011 population estimate, Maryland is now home to 5,828,289 residents. The previous estimate was just under 5.8 million. Most of the state’s population is happy to live in small towns such as Scaggsville and Salisbury, however, a hefty number of people live in the state’s largest city—Baltimore. This city is home to more than 620,000.

Because Baltimore is Maryland’s most populous city, it has the liveliest art and culture scene in the state. It is home to popular art museums such as The Walters Art Museum, The American Visionary Art Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA), and the Academy Art Museum. In addition, the city has no shortage of art galleries, performance venues, art centers, and independent galleries that encourage all forms of art from fine to experimental.

Besides a bustling art scene, Baltimore is home to many of the state’s best art and design schools. Maryland Institute College of Art, Goucher College, and University of Maryland are just a few. These schools (and many others) offer a wide variety of degree programs from a B.F.A. in animation or visual arts to an M.F.A. in imaging and digital arts. Continue reading to find out about Maryland’s most popular options for aspiring visual artists.

Maryland Visual Art Schools

According to the most recent report by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Maryland is now home to 62 Title IV colleges and universities. The state’s Title IV schools have an undergraduate student body of more than 266,000 students, with 2,000+ enrolled in the state’s top art and design schools alone. Scroll through the list below to take a look at Maryland’s top schools for aspiring visual artists and what they have to offer.  
 
Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Degrees Offered: B. A., B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Animation/Interactive Media or Graphic Design; M. F. A. Imaging and Digital Arts

Frostburg
Frostburg State University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Visual Arts with Concentration in Graphic Design

More Visual Arts related programs to consider:  

Employment and Salary Trends for Maryland Visual Artists

According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (March 27, 2012), Maryland is home to around 30,540 artists, up from 29,200 just a few years ago, and up from 28,110 in 2002. While the population of artists here increased somewhat over the years, salaries have increased dramatically. In 2002, Maryland’s still impressive population of artists averaged $40,460. The latest figures show that artists here now average $55,470 per year.

It is important to note that salaries for artists vary by industry, education, company, experience, location, and more. For example, the average salary for visual artists living in Maryland’s principle cities is actually higher than the state average for artists overall. The average salary for visual artists living and working in Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Glen Burnie, Ellicott City, and Bethesda is around $60,000 per year.