Art Studio and Design at NIU
Bachelor of Fine Arts
You have a vision to share with the world. We'll help bring it to life.
Come create with our faculty of renowned artists, designers and scholars. They'll help build your technical skills while expanding your perspectives on culture and art. You can concentrate in one of many studio and design areas. With our extensive studio and exhibition spaces, you'll have the resources and support to make your vision a reality.
I am pursuing a visual communication major. I decided on this course because when I was a little kid, I loved drawing and creating art. As I grew older, I began to develop a fascination with logos and the meaning and process behind them.
What Can I Do With an Art Studio and Design Degree From NIU?
When you graduate with your B.F.A. degree, you'll join our network of thousands of alumni with thriving careers in art and design. Depending on your interests, you can pursue your artistic passions in a variety of fields and roles.
Top skills reported by alumni:
- Advertising
- Art direction
- Brand awareness
- Graphic design
- Logo design
- Web design
Top fields alumni work in:
- Business
- Design
- Education
- Management
- Marketing
- Media
Other Programs to Consider
Career Potential for NIU Art Studio and Design Majors
Average mid-career salary:
$83,077
Top employers include:
- Abbott
- Accenture
- Apple
- Allstate
- Chamberlain Group
- Home Depot
Job titles include:
- Artist
- Creative director
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator
- Product designer
- UX designer
Source: Steppingblocks, 2023
What to Expect as an Art Studio and Design Major at NIU
You’ll start by taking foundational courses in several art and design areas, as well as art history and general education courses. Then, you’ll choose an area to concentrate in:
- Ceramics
- Drawing
- Fiber
- Illustration
- Metalwork, jewelry design and digital fabrication
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Time arts (animation, video)
- Visual communication (graphic design)
Related Websites
How We’ll Help You Succeed
Apply for free and we’ll automatically consider you for a renewable merit scholarship.
Earn your bachelor’s degree fast with our affordable tuition and fees. Any credit hours you take over 12 are free (per semester).
Prepare to thrive after graduation with personalized support from Career Services.
With our truth-in-tuition policy, you’ll get the same fixed tuition rate for four continuous years, whether you live in Illinois or another state.
Apply to NIU
First-year Students
(Freshman)
High School GPA
3.0 or higher?
You're guaranteed general NIU admission.
ACT/SAT SCORES
Not considered.
We think your high school GPA is a better predictor of your success.
Transfer Students
ALL COLLEGES GPA
2.0 or higher?
You're guaranteed general NIU admission.
ALL COLLEGES GPA
3.0 or higher?
You're guaranteed a
renewable merit scholarship.