Online Visual Arts Colleges

What visual arts colleges and universities are offering their prospective students the best degree program options and educational experiences?

As the world increasingly depends on Internet use and other visual technologies, students who have art skills are increasingly in demand. Attending traditional or online visual arts schools can make the difference between a talented artist and a working artist. The amount of students studying computer assisted design skills has increased dramatically. And though traditional, hands on art skills are still sought after more and more students find that they need to be able to compete with digital skills as well to step into the highest paying positions. Different art and design majors range from associates, bachelors, and masters degree programs. Students at visual arts colleges may study online or on campus. Visual arts course offerings include such subjects as Advertising, Animation and Special Effects, Illustration, Interior Design, Web Design, and Game Design.

Selected Digital Design & Graphic Arts Programs

Full Sail University

• Bachelors - Computer Animation
• Bachelors - Digital Arts & Design
• Bachelors - Entertainment Business
• Bachelors - Film
• Bachelors - Game Art
• Bachelors - Game Development
• Bachelors - Recording Arts
• Bachelors - Show Production
• Masters - Entertainment Business
• Masters - Game Design

Art Institute Online and The Art Institute Campus

• Advertising — Bachelor of Science
• Digital Design — Diploma
• Entertainment Design — Bachelor of Science
• Graphic Design — Associate of Science
• Graphic Design — Bachelor of Science
• Industrial Design Technology — Associate of Science
• Industrial Design — Bachelor of Science
• Interior Design — Bachelor of Science
• Kitchen & Bath Design — Associate of Science
• Fashion & Retail Management — Bachelor of Science
• Digital Filmmaking & Video Production — Associate of Science
• Digital Filmmaking & Video Production — Bachelor of Science
• Game Art & Design — Bachelor of Science
• Media Arts & Animation — Bachelor of Science
• Photography — Associate of Science
• Photography — Bachelor of Science
• Visual Effects & Motion Graphics — Bachelor of Science
• Web Design & Interactive Media — Associate of Science
• Web Design & Interactive Media — Bachelor of Science
• Web Design — Diploma

American InterContinental University and American InterContinental University Online

• Associate's (AABA) - Visual Communication
• Associate in Arts in Business Administration - Visual Communications.
• Bachelor of Visual Communication
• Bachelor of Fine Arts - Digital Design
• Bachelor of Fine Arts - Web Design

Kaplan University

• Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems/Web Development
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Web Multimedia and Animation
• Internet and Website Development Certificate

International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) and International Academy of Design & Technology Online (IADT Online)

• Associate of Science in Building Information Modeling
• Associate of Science in Graphic Design
• Associate of Science in Information Technology
• Associate of Science in Web Design & Development
• Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media Production
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Game Production
• Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Internet Marketing
• Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Development

University of Phoenix

• Visual Communication (Certificate)

DeVry University

• Web Graphic Design (Associate's)

Stevens-Henager College

• Bachelor of Science in Graphic Arts
• Associate of Science in Graphic Arts

Bryant & Stratton College

• AAS - Interactive Media Design

Westwood College

• Bachelor of Science in Web Design and Multimedia
• Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
• Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising
• Bachelor of Science in Game Art and Design
• Bachelor of Science in Game Software Development
• Associate - Graphic Design and Multimedia

Art & Design Programs in Canada (Diploma Programs)

Visual College of Art and Design

Applied Arts Program

• 3D Animation, Modeling Art and Design
• Graphic Design
• Web Design and Programming

Reeves College

Department of Technology

• Computer Graphic Design (CGD)

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Visual Arts Education and Training

Students enrolled in visual arts colleges are expected to understand the role of artists in civic life, and to be able to take on leadership positions in roles that require activism in shaping how the arts are created, understood, and accepted in public settings.

Students at visual arts colleges interested in such diverse programs as CAD Architectural Drafting, Game Art, Interior Design, and Visual Communications may earn a bachelor degree in visual design. Other degree programs at visual arts colleges include: Fashion Design, Digital Media, Photography, and Game Production, among others.

Related areas of study at visual arts colleges include: Digital Photography, Interior Design, Communication Design, and Interior Design. Other visual arts colleges offer degree programs in Design, Computer Animation, and Visual Effects Animation.

Visual Arts Careers

Graduates of visual arts colleges may expect to enter the workplace with jobs in fields such as an Art Director working to oversee staff and research project requirements, as an Artist producing illustrations or designing layout and copy, as an Audio-Visual Technician preparing art media for presentation, as an Illustrator preparing sketches for proposed illustrations using imagination and suggestions from clients, or as a Production Artist working with a team of artists to produce print and web ready layouts.

Visual arts careers include working in a: Fine Arts, Industrial Design, Cartooning and Animation, Illustration. Self-employed artists and designers enjoy work in areas like jewelry and crafts, selling their own paintings and pieces, interior designers, consultants, multimedia designers, website designers, illustrators and other areas. Interns and graduates of visual arts colleges work for many different companies for example Disney, Pixar, Hallmark Cards, Sega, and Hewlett-Packard.

Expected Income and Expected Career Growth

Artists entering job markets at the low end might expect to make an annual salary of $57,000 with one to two years of experience upon graduating from visual arts colleges. Those with six or more years of experience might expect to earn about $68,000 annually.

Top artists in their fields may expect to earn $200,000 annually, but the average yearly salary is about $58,500. Artists who are skilled in both traditional hand and digital technology are the most in demand. Industries that are showing the fastest grown in terms of jobs continue to be film and games.

With demand for gaming and video industries increasing it is projected that digital media trained artists will see a 26% increase in job openings for the same time period. Fine artists and other graduates of visual arts colleges are expected to see 10% increase in earnings, and the highest paid art director jobs should earn a median salary range between approximately $49,000 and $92,000 annually with a 9% increase projected.

The United States Bureau of Labor Services projects approximately 16% growth for employed artists from 218,000 in 2006 until 2016. Competition for available jobs for those graduating from visual arts colleges is expected to remain high. With 6% of freelance artists self-employed, job outlooks in all artistic industries remains varied.