North Carolina Community Colleges
Art Programs
Art and visual-arts coursework at community colleges in this state. Studio art, art history, and design-track classes for fine-arts transfer.
51 colleges · 1060 sections · 46 unique courses · Spring 2026
North Carolina community college art programs span studio art (drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics) and applied design (graphic design, digital media, illustration). The 1060 sections across 51 NCCCS colleges this term include intro studio courses, art history, design fundamentals, and software-specific training (Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Blender for 3D).
Two distinct outcomes: the studio-art associate is largely transfer-prep for BFA programs at four-year art schools; the graphic-design AAS is a direct-to-career credential preparing students for entry design roles, agency junior positions, and in-house marketing teams. Compare colleges below — programs with strong portfolio-development emphasis place graduates better than those focused purely on technique.
Earnings & outcomes for Art graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 5004 — Design and Applied Arts. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Art
Art Availability Snapshot
How art sections are being offered across 51 colleges in North Carolina this term (1060 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person695 (66%)
- online305 (29%)
- hybrid30 (3%)
- zoom30 (3%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)316
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)219
- Evening (5 PM and after)20
- Asynchronous / TBA505
Start dates
Sections begin on 33 distinct dates. 284 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 296 distinct instructors across 51 colleges.
Common Art courses
- ART 111Art Appreciation(532 sections)
- ART 115Art History Survey II(66 sections)
- ART 131Drawing I(61 sections)
- ART 114Art History Survey I(59 sections)
- ART 122Three-Dimensional Design(41 sections)
- ART 121Two-Dimensional Design(38 sections)
- ART 132Drawing II(30 sections)
- ART 240Painting I(27 sections)
- ART 283Ceramics I(26 sections)
- ART 171Digital Design I(19 sections)
- ART 284Ceramics II(16 sections)
- ART 241Painting II(14 sections)
Career outlook for Art graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare North Carolina’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
North Carolina's typical pay is about 10% below the typical state — common for lower cost-of-living states, but worth weighing against tuition savings.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I be a graphic designer with just a community-college degree?
- Yes — the AAS in graphic design is a complete entry-level credential, and most North Carolina programs are designed to build a portfolio strong enough for junior designer roles. Hiring is heavily portfolio-driven; the degree gets you in the door but your portfolio determines whether you get the role. Software fluency (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) is table stakes.
- Will my art credits transfer to a BFA program?
- Studio courses (drawing, painting, sculpture) typically transfer as elective credit toward a BFA but may not fulfill specific BFA major-requirement slots — BFA programs usually want their own foundation sequence. Art history and gen-ed courses transfer cleanly. The associate of fine arts (AFA) is the strongest transfer-prep pathway if you know you'll continue to a BFA; check articulation agreements with target schools.
- What's the difference between studio art and graphic design programs?
- Studio art is fine-art-oriented (creating original work, often for galleries or commission); graphic design is commercial-art-oriented (creating work to client briefs for marketing, branding, packaging, web). The career economics are very different — graphic designers have many more entry roles available; studio artists typically need to build a separate career while developing their practice.
- Do I need to be 'good at art' to start?
- Less than you'd think for graphic design — the program teaches design principles and software from the foundation up. Studio art programs assume more foundational drawing skill but most North Carolina CCs offer beginner-level studio courses; the question is whether you have time and motivation to put in the hours of practice that any visual-art career requires.
Compare Art programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how North Carolina’s art programs stack up.
Other programs in North Carolina
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.