Key takeaways
- The student loan crisis in the US has reached crisis level surpassing $1.6trillion in 2024 and potentially crossing $1.8trillion by the end of 2025.
- Many students are turning to affordable online art schools as a workaround to the rising cost of obtaining a college education.
- Online art schools offer quality education, career relevant skills, and flexibility at a significantly lower cost than traditional degrees.
- Contrary to popular belief, a liberal arts degree, particular in art or design, equips students with highly valued skills like creative thinking, problem solving, communication, and adaptability.
- Graduates with an affordable online art degree or an affordable online illustration degree can pursue a range of careers, including graphic design, illustrator, multimedia artist, and so on.
- Career opportunities are easily available for liberal arts graduates across diverse industries from advertising and tech to entertainment and education.
- Some good online art schools include Academy of Art University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Arizona State University, and Southern New Hampshire University.
In recent years, student debt has skyrocketed surpassing almost all categories except for home mortgage debt. According to a report by CNBC, at the end of 2024 nearly 43 million students owed $1.6trillion in student debt. Some reports indicate that the number has well-exceed $1.8trillion in 2025, however, official figures will only be available at the end of the year.
Though higher education is essential to succeed in today’s job market, federal lending policies, high interest rates, and the mounting student debt are all reasons why many students are turning to flexible and affordable educational programs. This guide explores the many career opportunities affordable online art schools open up for liberal arts graduates. Additionally, we list some excellent schools offering an affordable online art degree for interested students.
What career opportunities does a liberal arts degree open?
Seemingly, today’s job market prizes highly-specialized technical skills. However, that is not entirely true. Today’s job market is highly dynamic, constantly evolving, and growing and changing at unprecedented rates. In a job market so dynamic, how does an aspiring professional choose a degree that will help develop the skills needed to lead successful careers. Should you invest in a program that focuses on specific vocational training, or opt instead for an all-rounder program that develops core professional competencies such as the liberal arts program?
While some may assume that an arts-focused education limits professional prospects, the truth is quite the opposite. Graduates from programs such as an affordable online art degree or an affordable online illustration degree possess a unique blend of skills. These include creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, all of which are highly valued across different industries. Some high-paying job opportunities for liberal arts graduates from affordable online art schools are discussed below.
Related: Do cheap art schools offer comprehensive liberal arts education alongside art training?
Graphic Designer
Average annual salary: $64,329
A graphic designer uses visuals to communicate different concepts and ideas to viewers. The role combines the use of communication with creativity to produce a range of materials for different purposes. Graphic designers create a range of materials from marketing materials, brand identities, websites, social media content, advertisements, to so much more.
Related: Uncover everything about a game design and art degree
Graduates with an affordable online art degree possess strong design, communication, and conceptual skills. These skills make it easier for graduates to obtain roles within the graphic design industry. Typical employers include those in the advertising, publishing and tech industries.
Illustrator
Average annual salary: $71,738
An illustrator creates original artwork to visually represent ideas, stories, or concepts across various media. The role blends artistic skill with storytelling to produce engaging visuals for both print and digital platforms. Illustrators develop work for a variety of purposes, including books, magazines, advertisements, product packaging, animation, video games, and more.
Graduates with an affordable online illustration degree develop strong drawing, design, and conceptual thinking skills. These abilities prepare them for success in the illustration industry, where visual communication and creativity are key skills. Typical employers include publishing houses, advertising agencies, entertainment studios, design firms, and freelance clients across multiple industries.
Related: Find online design degrees to suit your career aspirations
Multimedia Artist/ Animator
Average annual salary: $99,800
A multimedia artist or animator uses visual effects, animation, and other digital tools to bring images, characters, and scenes to life. This role combines artistic talent with technical proficiency to create content for films, television, video games, websites, and mobile applications. Multimedia artists and animators work on everything from 2D and 3D animations to motion graphics and special effects for entertainment, advertising, and educational purposes.
Graduates with an affordable online art degree often gain hands-on experience with industry-standard software, along with strong storytelling and visual design skills. These competencies make them well-suited for roles in animation studios, video game designer jobs, advertising agencies, and digital media firms. Many also work independently as freelance animators or multimedia content creators.
Art Director
Average annual salary: $106,575
An art director oversees the various style and creative direction of projects across a variety of media, including advertising campaigns, magazines, product packaging, websites, films, and television productions. This role involves leading a team of designers, illustrators, and other creatives to ensure a cohesive and compelling visual message that aligns with the project’s goals. Art directors balance creativity with strategic thinking, managing both artistic vision and production timelines.
Affordable and good online art schools foster in their students a strong foundation in design principles, visual communication, and leadership. With experience, these skills position them to move into art director roles. Moreover, these skills make them eligible for employment across industries such as advertising, publishing, marketing, entertainment, and digital media. Additionally, strong conceptual thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to guide a creative team are key traits of successful art directors. All these are skills graduates with affordable online art degrees possess.
User Experience Designer
Average annual salary: $146,521
A user experience (UX) designer focuses on creating products, websites, and applications that are intuitive, engaging, and easy to use. This role blends creativity with research and problem-solving to enhance the overall interaction between users and digital interfaces. UX designers are involved in every stage of the design process; from user research and wireframing to prototyping and testing. Their job is to ensure that the final product meets both user needs and business goals.
Related: Web design – the ideal college degree to become a web designer
Graduates from affordable online art schools often bring strong visual design skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of human-centered design to the field of UX. These strengths make them valuable contributors in industries like tech, e-commerce, healthcare, and education. Typical employers include software companies, startups, design agencies, and digital product teams across a wide range of sectors.
Entrepreneur
Average annual salary: $133,451
An entrepreneur uses creativity, innovation, and strategic thinking to start and grow their own business or creative venture. In the art and design world, entrepreneurs often turn their artistic skills into successful brands, offering services or products such as freelance design, illustration, digital content, handmade goods, or online courses. This role involves taking on many roles, including managing creative work, marketing, finances, and client relationships.
Good online art schools equip graduates with both creative expertise and problem-solving abilities. These skills are essential for aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to launch and manage their own ventures. These programs often encourage independent thinking and provide portfolio development opportunities. Moreover, these programs focus on business fundamentals that support self-employment. Entrepreneurs with an art background can thrive in industries like e-commerce, media, fashion design, and digital content creation.
How to choose the right affordable online art schools?
When selecting an affordable online art school, there are certain factors students should look out for. These help choose only the best schools offering the highest quality of education. One of the primary consideration factors is accreditation. Make sure to choose schools that are accredited and offer flexible, career-oriented curricula.
Related: Difference between a liberal arts college and university
Whether you are pursuing an affordable online illustration degree or a broader affordable online art degree, ensure the program includes:
- Access to experienced faculty
- Strong portfolio-building opportunities
- Opportunities for internships or real-world projects
- Career support services
Related: How to get a liberal arts degree that boosts your career opportunities?
List of the best affordable online art schools
Aspiring liberal arts students searching for an affordable online art degree can explore programs from the following schools.
Academy of Art University
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| San Francisco, California | 100% | 4% | $34,053 |
The Academy of Art University offers a fine art degree which opens a variety of career paths for graduates. Through the program, graduates are able to develop a wide range of expertise that will enable them to pursue roles such as painter, sculptor, or printmaker.
Savannah College of Art and Design
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Savannah, Georgia | 82% | 70.6% | $40,595 |
You can pursue a range of art degrees from the Savannah College of Art and Design, including a bachelor of arts, a bachelor of fine arts or even a masters degree. Even though it is not the cheapest option, it is one of the renowned, good online art schools.
Related: Graduate with a bachelor of arts in photography
Arizona State University
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Tempe, Arizona | 90.2% | 65.9% | $12,051 in-state
$32,193 out-of-state |
Arizona State University is one of the best, most affordable online art schools. The university offers multiple liberal arts degrees, including an online arts degree and an online humanities and arts program. Here, aspiring liberal arts graduates benefit from quality education, flexibility, convenience, and affordability.
Related: What arts and humanities jobs can you get with a liberal arts degree?
Southern New Hampshire University
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Hooksett, New Hampshire | 96.1% | 34.4% | $16,450 |
Southern New Hampshire University is another recognized online school. Whether you are looking for a graphic design degree, art degree, or any other liberal arts program, you will likely find an option at Southern New Hampshire University.
Become a sought-after professional with a liberal arts degree from affordable online art schools!
A liberal arts degree from an affordable online art school isn’t just a cost-effective way to pursue your passion, it’s also a smart investment in a versatile and creative career. The world of online education has evolved and now offers greater value than on-campus education to some students. Whether you are hoping to build vocational specific skills, or develop key professional competencies, good online art schools offer it all.
As the world increasingly values creative thinkers and communicators, graduates from good online art schools are well-positioned to lead and innovate in the workplace. From design to education, and from tech to entrepreneurship, the skills you gain are in high demand across a wide range of industries.