1
Rank 1
Top pickUniversity of Notre Dame
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · IN
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $56,560
- Median debt
- $19,750
- School completion
- 95%
- Net price
- $25,339
Christian Colleges
Best Christian Colleges for Visual Art Programs of 2026
University of Notre Dame's design and applied arts program has the highest median earnings on this list at $56,560 one year after graduation, among 55 Christian colleges with a visual art program. One program per school is shown, ordered by program earnings.
We may earn a fee from the schools on this page, which can affect how they are placed.
Partner placement can affect which schools appear in the featured offer. It does not change the editorial ranking order.
Updated Oct 15, 2026
We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated Oct 15, 2026, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.Featured schools
SponsoredThese schools paid to appear here. We may earn a fee if you click or request information. Paying never changes a school’s place in our rankings.
How we ranked these
Every program is listed with the same published figures from the u.s. department of education, college scorecard (most recent cohorts, 2025-26). One figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation. One program per school is shown. Sponsorship is labeled and never changes a program's place.
At a glance
Compare programs by median earnings one year after graduation
| # | Program | Median earnings one year after graduation | Median debt | School completion | Net price | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre DameDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $56,560 | $19,750 | 95% | $25,339 | Visit |
| 2 | Texas Christian UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $55,168 | $27,000 | 86% | $35,045 | Visit |
| 3 | Chapman UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $52,532 | $16,000 | 83% | $46,708 | Visit |
| 4 | Baylor UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $51,727 | $23,125 | 82% | $44,441 | Visit |
| 5 | Southern Methodist UniversityFine and Studio Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $50,693 | $19,500 | 83% | $39,816 | Visit |
| 6 | Marymount UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $50,491 | $26,000 | 55% | $28,521 | Visit |
| 7 | University of DaytonDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $48,920 | $21,895 | 80% | $30,366 | Visit |
| 8 | High Point UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $45,851 | $26,000 | 72% | $41,019 | Visit |
| 9 | Mercyhurst UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $44,671 | $27,000 | 61% | $26,486 | Visit |
| 10 | Seattle Pacific UniversityDesign and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree | $43,835 | $21,917 | 55% | $25,419 | Visit |
Featured schools
SponsoredThese schools paid to appear here. We may earn a fee if you click or request information. Paying never changes a school’s place in our rankings.
The shortlist
The 10 programs, from the top
- 2
Rank 2
Texas Christian University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · TX
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $55,168
- Median debt
- $27,000
- School completion
- 86%
- Net price
- $35,045
- 3
Rank 3
Chapman University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $52,532
- Median debt
- $16,000
- School completion
- 83%
- Net price
- $46,708
- 4
Rank 4
Baylor University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · TX
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $51,727
- Median debt
- $23,125
- School completion
- 82%
- Net price
- $44,441
- 5
Rank 5
Southern Methodist University
Fine and Studio Arts · Bachelor's Degree · TX
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $50,693
- Median debt
- $19,500
- School completion
- 83%
- Net price
- $39,816
- 6
Rank 6
Marymount University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · VA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $50,491
- Median debt
- $26,000
- School completion
- 55%
- Net price
- $28,521
- 7
Rank 7
University of Dayton
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · OH
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $48,920
- Median debt
- $21,895
- School completion
- 80%
- Net price
- $30,366
- 8
Rank 8
High Point University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · NC
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $45,851
- Median debt
- $26,000
- School completion
- 72%
- Net price
- $41,019
- 9
Rank 9
Mercyhurst University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · PA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $44,671
- Median debt
- $27,000
- School completion
- 61%
- Net price
- $26,486
- 10
Rank 10
Seattle Pacific University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree · WA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $43,835
- Median debt
- $21,917
- School completion
- 55%
- Net price
- $25,419
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Get startedQuestions about this ranking
How is this ranking made?
One figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the named program. One program per school is shown, the school's highest-earning program that matches this list. Every rule is published in the method below.
Can a school pay to rank higher?
No. Sponsorship is a separate, labeled section, and paying never changes a program's place in the ranking.
What do the figures cover?
Earnings and median debt are program-level figures from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program.
How this ranking is made
Every line below is a rule. None of them can be bought.
If a rule is not written here, we did not apply it.
- 01
Programs in this list: Christian colleges that award a degree in visual art, at the bachelor's level.
- 02
Ranked by one figure: median earnings one year after graduation (median earnings one year after graduation), from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.
- 03
Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.
- 04
Earnings and median debt are program-level. Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program.
- 05
No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools, where shown, appear in a separate, labeled section.
- 06
Religious affiliation is self-reported by the school to the U.S. Department of Education. Confirm program accreditation, licensure, and curriculum details with the school.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15. Earnings and debt are program-level; net price and completion describe the whole school. Logos by Logo.dev.
The short answer
The best visual art program at a Christian college is University of Notre Dame.
University of Notre Dame's design and applied arts program has the highest median earnings on this list at $56,560 one year after graduation, among 55 Christian colleges with a matching program. Median debt is $19,750. One program per school is shown. No school can pay to appear here or to move up.
$56,560University of Notre Dame leads this list.Median earnings one year after graduation.
Schools on the list
55
Median program earnings
$38,619
Median program debt
$25,250
Median school completion
66%
Highest program earnings
- 01University of Notre Dame$56,560 one year after graduation
- 02Texas Christian University$55,168 one year after graduation
- 03Chapman University$52,532 one year after graduation
- 04Baylor University$51,727 one year after graduation
Lowest program debt
- 01Chapman University$16,000 median debt
- 02Emory University$17,000 median debt
- 03Seattle University$18,500 median debt
- 04Southern Methodist University$19,500 median debt
Highest school completion
- 01University of Notre Dame95% completion
- 02Emory University91% completion
- 03Texas Christian University86% completion
- 04St Olaf College83% completion
Largest enrollment
- 01Liberty University50,012 students · $29,235 net price
- 02Baylor University14,785 students · $44,441 net price
- 03DePaul University14,090 students · $27,108 net price
- 04Texas Christian University11,026 students · $35,045 net price
01
Which visual art program is actually best?
University of Notre Dame tops this list because its design and applied arts program has the highest median earnings one year after graduation among the programs that match this list. It reports $56,560 for graduates of that program, with 23 graduates reporting earnings. Median debt for the program is $19,750.
The figures are program-level, not school-level. That matters here: a school's overall earnings can hide a strong program or lift a weak one. This list compares the program itself, then shows the school's net price and completion rate beside it so you can see the whole picture.
02
What this list measures
The list is built from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. It reports median earnings one year after graduation for graduates of a named program, plus median debt for that program. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.
Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program. A low net price is a school-level figure. A high completion rate is a school-level figure. Use them as context, not as a program guarantee.
03
How this list is ordered
One published figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the matching program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.
For this visual art list, the matching programs are limited to visual art programs at Christian colleges. A school can have more than one matching program. The highest-earning one is the one shown. No school can pay to be included or to move up.
04
The top 8 programs on this list
These are the highest-ranked programs, ordered by median earnings one year after graduation.
- 01
University of Notre Dame
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$56,560 median earnings one year after graduation. $19,750 median program debt. The school reports 95% completion and $25,339 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $56,560
- Program debt
- $19,750
- School completion
- 95%
- Graduates reporting
- 23
- 02
Texas Christian University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$55,168 median earnings one year after graduation. $27,000 median program debt. The school reports 86% completion and $35,045 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $55,168
- Program debt
- $27,000
- School completion
- 86%
- Graduates reporting
- 30
- 03
Chapman University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$52,532 median earnings one year after graduation. $16,000 median program debt. The school reports 83% completion and $46,708 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $52,532
- Program debt
- $16,000
- School completion
- 83%
- Graduates reporting
- 25
- 04
Baylor University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$51,727 median earnings one year after graduation. $23,125 median program debt. The school reports 82% completion and $44,441 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $51,727
- Program debt
- $23,125
- School completion
- 82%
- Graduates reporting
- 23
- 05
Southern Methodist University
Fine and Studio Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$50,693 median earnings one year after graduation. $19,500 median program debt. The school reports 83% completion and $39,816 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $50,693
- Program debt
- $19,500
- School completion
- 83%
- Graduates reporting
- 27
- 06
Marymount University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$50,491 median earnings one year after graduation. $26,000 median program debt. The school reports 55% completion and $28,521 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $50,491
- Program debt
- $26,000
- School completion
- 55%
- Graduates reporting
- 41
- 07
University of Dayton
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$48,920 median earnings one year after graduation. $21,895 median program debt. The school reports 80% completion and $30,366 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $48,920
- Program debt
- $21,895
- School completion
- 80%
- Graduates reporting
- 22
- 08
High Point University
Design and Applied Arts · Bachelor's Degree
$45,851 median earnings one year after graduation. $26,000 median program debt. The school reports 72% completion and $41,019 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $45,851
- Program debt
- $26,000
- School completion
- 72%
- Graduates reporting
- 47
05
What does the program cost?
Median program debt is $25,250 for the programs on this list. That is debt for graduates of the named program, not the whole school. A low debt figure can mean lower tuition, more grant aid, or a shorter program. Ask the school which one drives the number.
| School | Program | Program debt | School net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | Design and Applied Arts | $19,750 | $25,339 |
| Texas Christian University | Design and Applied Arts | $27,000 | $35,045 |
| Chapman University | Design and Applied Arts | $16,000 | $46,708 |
| Baylor University | Design and Applied Arts | $23,125 | $44,441 |
| Southern Methodist University | Fine and Studio Arts | $19,500 | $39,816 |
| Marymount University | Design and Applied Arts | $26,000 | $28,521 |
| University of Dayton | Design and Applied Arts | $21,895 | $30,366 |
| High Point University | Design and Applied Arts | $26,000 | $41,019 |
06
Does it pay off?
The median program on this list reports $38,619 one year after graduation. The top program reports $56,560. Earnings one year out are an early signal, not a lifetime total. They vary by field, by role, and by how many graduates go on to further study.
Read the program earnings next to the program debt and the school's completion rate. A high earnings number with very high debt is a different story from a moderate earnings number with low debt. The right comparison is the one that matches the career you actually want.
07
What makes a strong visual art program?
Visual art programs at Christian colleges prepare students for studio practice, design, illustration, photography, and related fields. The strongest programs give you studio space, honest critique, and a portfolio that employers or graduate schools will take seriously.
- 01Does the program help you build a portfolio and show it publicly?
- 02What studio space, equipment, and software do students get?
- 03Are there internships or client projects with real deadlines?
08
Is it accredited?
Art and design programs can hold NASAD accreditation. Ask whether the program is accredited and whether the faculty include working artists or designers.
Institutional accreditation is the baseline. It is a review by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes, and it is what makes a school eligible for federal student aid. The schools on this list are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in that aid system. Ask the school which agency accredits the program you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.
09
What should I check before I apply?
Once a program is accredited, these are the questions worth answering before you apply.
- 01Does the program lead to the credential, license, or next degree you actually want?
- 02What are the clinical, practicum, residency, or portfolio requirements, and can you complete them near you?
- 03What will you pay after grants, and how much debt do graduates of this program carry?
- 04What do graduates of this program earn, and how many graduates are behind that figure?
- 05Can you transfer credit, and how long will the program take?
10
Other Christian college rankings
This page ranks visual art programs by one published figure. The rest of the hub uses the same rule and the same federal data.
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- Best Online Christian Colleges
- Best Bible Colleges
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11
Common questions about visual art programs
Do I need a portfolio to apply?
Many art programs require one, and some accept a portfolio after admission for scholarship review. Ask the school what it expects and whether a portfolio can increase your aid.
Can I study visual art online?
Some design and digital art programs can be completed online. Studio-heavy programs usually require in-person work. Ask how critique, studio access, and exhibitions work.
12
Where do these numbers come from?
Order. The list is ordered only by median earnings one year after graduation for the named program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment.
Figures. Earnings and median debt are program-level figures from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. Net price and completion describe the whole school. One program per school is shown.
No pay to rank. No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools appear in a separate, labeled section.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15.
We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated the 2026-10-15 College Scorecard release, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.
Written by Lena Okonkwo, Education editor. Checked by Marcus Hale, Data editor. Some of the schools featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Terms used on this ranking
Median earningsMedian earnings is the midpoint of the earnings distribution for a defined group of former students, most ofte...Median debtMedian debt is the midpoint of the cumulative federal student loan amounts borrowed by a defined group of stud...Gainful employmentGainful employment is the federal regulatory framework that evaluates whether certain Title IV-eligible progra...Graduation rateGraduation rate is the percentage of full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who c...
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Advertising disclosure
The schools on this page are advertisers. They pay us when you click through or request information, and that payment affects which schools appear and in what order. Net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and are the same figures we publish for every school.