Best Online Master’s in Art Education and Art Administration

Best Online Master’s in Art Education and Art Administration

By James Barham

Published: Aug 27, 2021
Updated: May 22, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in art history education degree programs for students looking to apply their advanced knowledge of art history to the educational field.

Top 10 Online Art Education and Art Administration Master's Degrees

Boston University

69%

Florida State University

62%

University of Kentucky

58%

Northeastern University

55%

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

52%

Florida International University

49%

University of Central Florida

48%

Adelphi University

43%

Roosevelt University

39%

Radford University

35%

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

97%

Radford University

95%

Dallas Baptist University

94%

University of Kentucky

94%

Azusa Pacific University

94%

Plymouth State University

92%

Roosevelt University

92%

PennWest Edinboro

92%

University of Northern Iowa

86%

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

84%

University of Central Florida

31 to 1

Florida International University

25 to 1

Florida State University

21 to 1

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

19 to 1

University of Northern Iowa

17 to 1

Plymouth State University

17 to 1

University of Kentucky

16 to 1

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

16 to 1

PennWest Edinboro

15 to 1

Dallas Baptist University

14 to 1

Boston University

$59,816

Northeastern University

$57,592

Adelphi University

$42,475

Azusa Pacific University

$41,510

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

$40,376

Dallas Baptist University

$33,620

Roosevelt University

$31,493

Converse University

$19,850

Lindenwood University

$18,640

Winthrop University

$15,306

Boston University

$58,560

Adelphi University

$43,040

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

$39,906

Northeastern University

$25,801

Roosevelt University

$21,275

Dallas Baptist University

$19,872

Azusa Pacific University

$16,571

Winthrop University

$15,472

University of Kentucky

$12,311

Plymouth State University

$11,160

PennWest Edinboro

13%

Converse University

20%

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

22%

Lindenwood University

25%

Plymouth State University

26%

Winthrop University

27%

Dallas Baptist University

28%

Azusa Pacific University

31%

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

34%

University of Northern Iowa

35%

Northeastern University

18%

Boston University

19%

University of Central Florida

36%

Florida State University

37%

Winthrop University

64%

Florida International University

64%

Lindenwood University

75%

Adelphi University

77%

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

81%

Converse University

82%

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

5 to 1

Boston University

10 to 1

Azusa Pacific University

10 to 1

Converse University

11 to 1

Roosevelt University

11 to 1

Winthrop University

12 to 1

Adelphi University

12 to 1

Dallas Baptist University

14 to 1

Northeastern University

14 to 1

Radford University

14 to 1

University of Central Florida

$4,478

Florida State University

$4,640

Florida International University

$4,721

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

$7,716

PennWest Edinboro

$7,716

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

$7,770

University of Northern Iowa

$7,780

Radford University

$7,922

University of Kentucky

$11,247

Plymouth State University

$11,870

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

$6,138

University of Central Florida

$6,916

Converse University

$7,488

Florida International University

$8,912

Radford University

$8,915

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

$9,288

PennWest Edinboro

$9,288

University of Northern Iowa

$9,296

Florida State University

$9,684

Lindenwood University

$9,684

Key Takeaways

Online master’s degrees in art education and art administration programs offer considerable flexibility that adult learners and professionals find useful.
Students who study art education and art administration master’s degrees can advance their careers in museums, galleries, theaters, dance companies, and other creative organizations.
You may be the ideal candidate for this online master’s degree program if you are passionate about art and education.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Art enthusiasts can find job opportunities in diverse sectors and industries. Depending on your background, you might work in publishing, advertising, or graphic design.

Art-related jobs in TV, film, and theatre include set designers, costume designers, make-up artists, lighting technicians, and lighting directors. However, if you’re into administrative and education jobs, earning an online master’s degree in art education and art administration can be your most-needed secret weapon.

A master’s program in art education online allows students to understand the field in-depth and pursue advanced research. A range of media can be explored, including painting, digital, and experimental media.

Online master’s degree in art education graduates can become teachers in secondary and postsecondary schools, private learning centers, and daycare centers after they graduate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the arts and design occupations to grow 2 percent from 2021 to 2031. Due to the increase, approximately 20,500 new jobs will be created over the next decade.

Non-profit arts organizations may also offer opportunities for curriculum development. Most junior colleges only require a master’s degree to qualify for instructor positions, but some four-year colleges and universities require a PhD.

Students can enroll in online programs and continue to work at their jobs while taking classes part-time or full-time. An online master’s degree in art education usually requires two years to complete.

After a few years in the field of art education, many professionals recognize that they are ready to advance in their careers. An online master’s degree in art education can be a way to reach that goal.

Furthermore, if you want to become an administrator or organizer in the art world, a master’s degree in art administration can make that happen. As an event or exhibition organizer, you can manage staff and look after buildings like theaters and museums.

Careers In Art Education

The online master’s degree in art education prepares students for careers as art teachers in public and private schools and arts learning institutions. A major in art education may also work for a non-profit organization that promotes the arts, or in curriculum development for teaching art.

For those interested in teaching at a four-year university or college, a PhD may be required. To work as an instructor or specialize in providing art teacher education at a junior or community college, however, you only need a master’s degree.

Art teachers have the ability to tune into students’ inner worlds quickly. By understanding their work, developmental stage, literacy, and social-emotional state, they are able to make meaningful connections.

In case of distress or developmental delay, you can initiate early interventions. Your support can help them deal with their feelings. Your art class can be an anchor for some students, which motivates them to succeed in other subjects as well.

According to statistics and data from Zippia, the United States has over 59,877 art teachers. And Las Vegas has the highest demand for art teachers.

It is important to remember that actual salaries and job openings will vary depending on location, educational level, experience, and employer.

Careers in Art Administration

Being an arts administrator might be a good career choice for people who love the arts and are good at organizing. Arts festivals, orchestras, galleries, museums, art centers, and galleries are all places you can immerse yourself in.

The field of arts administration encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from community arts promotion to theatre work to festival organization.

It is not uncommon for arts administrators to have roles in marketing, advertising, publicity, market research, or public relations. Alternatively, they could manage projects, administer finances, or handle accounting and human resources.

It is common for art directors to be self-employed. The number of art directors is forecast to grow by 4% from 2021 to 2031.

Cost-Saving Tips for Your Online Master’s in Art Education and Art Administration

A master’s degree in art education online can be affordable in several ways. Several methods can be used to transfer credits, receive financial aid, and use flat-rate tuition. Explore each detail below.

Take advantage of financial aid

Various financial aid options are available to graduate students pursuing master’s degrees in art education online.

To apply for financial aid, prospective students should complete the FAFSA and contact their school’s student accounts office. The US Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop scholarship search tool and state college resources can also be used by students to locate financial aid resources.

Be sure to also research scholarships, tuition grants, discounts, and other types of financial aid offered in your graduate school of choice.

Transfer credits

Online art education master’s degree programs may allow students to transfer courses they have already completed at the graduate level. Additionally, some schools may accept undergraduate coursework for transfer.

The key is to seek information early and maximize transferring credits to save on your online master’s degree tuition costs.

Opt for programs with flat-rate tuition

In the United States, students have the option of paying flat-rate tuition at a number of schools. The flat fee tuition structure allows students to take a specific range of credit hours each semester while paying one flat fee for tuition.

For online master’s degree students taking nine to 15 credits per semester or nine credits or more, a flat-rate tuition structure may be available. This is indeed another effective way to save costs for your online master’s degree in art education or art administration.

Bottom Line: There are numerous ways to save money when pursuing an online master’s degree in art education and administration including financial aid, transfer credits, and flat-rate tuition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Art Education and Art Administration Degrees

Those looking to apply their advanced knowledge of art history to the educational field can earn a master’s degree in art education or arts administration.

Students can take online classes that combine art history, education, and administration such as Multicultural Art Education, Research in Art Education, and History of Art Education.

The required credits for graduation generally range from about 40 to 60 credits. The longer version of this program will usually include the instructional credits needed for teaching credentials. Typically, graduate students complete their program in two to three years. In addition to courses, students may also need to complete a practicum, an internship, and any required teaching certification exams.

After graduation, students with a master’s in art education or arts administration typically apply for their degree in the teaching field, often working in public and private K-12 schools.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s in art education and art administration.

Best Online Master's in Art Education and Art Administration Degree Programs

How do we determine the best online art education and art administration master's degree programs?

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Similar Careers in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of similar occupations to Art Directors in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

40730Craft Artists

67240Artists and Related Workers, All Other

69010Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators

86220Special Effects Artists and Animators

115430Art Directors

Best Online Master’s in Art Education and Art Administration Degree Programs

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And in many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.