Oregon might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about art, but did you know that this comfortably populated state is home to many unique art venues and a variety of competitive art & design schools? The Art Institute of Portland, Oregon College of Art and Craft, and Pacific Northwest College of Art are just a few of the top art & design schools here, but several others are popular among artists interested in a B.A. or B.S. in art, with an optional emphasis.
As far as the art scene goes, artists and art lovers alike can enjoy multiple art venues in principal cities such as Portland (the state’s largest city), Eugene, Salem, Gresham, and Hillsboro. Just a few top art venues here include Portland Art Museum, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art of the University of Oregon, Coos Art Museum (CAM), and Hallie Ford Museum of Art of Willamette University (HFMA).
Oregon Art Schools
According to the most recent figures released by the National Center for Education Sciences, Institute of Education Sciences (NCES IES), Oregon is home to 60 accredited colleges and universities. While some states either lost or gained schools over the years, Oregon’s collection or colleges has remained intact. Oregon’s colleges welcome more than 200,000 students each day and more than 2,000 students attend the state’s top art schools alone. Scroll through the list below to review Oregon’s top schools for aspiring artists and what they have to offer.
La Grande
Eastern Oregon University – Degrees Offered: B. A., B. S. Art with Graphics Emphasis; B. A., B. S. Computer Science with Multimedia Concentration; B. A., B. S. Media Arts with Digital Media Concentration
Newberg
George Fox University - Degrees Offered: B. A. Art with Concentration in Graphic Design
More Art related programs to consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#15) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#23) - 2020
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#29) - 2020
- Atlanta, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and SCAD eLearning
- Animation – BFA, MA, MFA
- Film and Television – BFA, MA, MFA
- Graphic Design – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Illustration – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Immersive Reality - BFA
- Interactive Design and Game Development – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Motion Media Design – BFA, MA, MFA
- Sequential Art – BA, BFA, MA, MFA
- Visual Effects – BFA, MA, MFA
- User Experience (UX) Design – BFA
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#3) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#12) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#9) - 2020
- Top 40 Nationally for Illustration (#9) - 2020
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#19) - 2020
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#17) - 2020
- Top 5 in Florida for Graphic Design (#4) - 2020
- Online
Employment and Salary Trends for Oregon Artists
According to the latest report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (March 29, 2012), Oregon is home to 23,840 salaried artists and designers. This figure has increased significantly since 2002, when the population of artists was 18,970. Salaries are on the rise as well. The average salary for Oregon artists and designers was $37,790 in 2002. Today, they average $47,710. It is important to keep in mind that salaries (and employment growth) vary by field. For example:
Fine Artists: Oregon was home to 130 salaried fine artists in 2002. The population of fine artists has decreased slightly since then. Today, the state is home to 110 fine artists. Salaries decreased slightly as well. In 2002, Oregon’s salaried fine artists averaged $36,930. Today the average salary is $36,620.
Art Directors: Oregon’s population of art directors is doing much better. In 2002, the talent pool was 260. Today, the state is home to 470 salaried art directors. Salaries increased significantly during the same period. In 2002, Oregon art directors averaged $59,340. Today, the average salary is $66,740.
Oregon’s active population of artists and designers are proud members of the nation’s massive collection of more than 1.7 million artists and designers, and the population is still growing. In 2002, the U.S. was home to just over 1.5 million. Salaries are on the rise as well. The mean annual wage for artists nationwide is $53,850, up from $41,660 in 2002.