Jewelry Arts
A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning jewelry from gems, other stones, and precious metals. Includes instruction in design concepts, electroforming, enameling, gemology, lapidary technique and art, metal and non-metal casting and molding, metal coloring, metalsmithing and finishing, personal style development, photo etching, and stone cutting and polishing.
- Schools offering
- 22
- Annual completions
- 57
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $41k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals creatively and technically to express emotions, ideas, or inner visions by fashioning jewelry from gems, other stones, and precious metals. Includes instruction in design concepts, electroforming, enameling, gemology, lapidary technique and art, metal and non-metal casting and molding, metal coloring, metalsmithing and finishing, personal style development, photo etching, and stone cutting and polishing.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary | $80k | +1.7% | Master's degree |
| Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers | $49k | -5.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Craft artists | $38k | +2.1% | No formal educational credential |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$41k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$34k
Bachelor's
$42k
Top colleges for Jewelry Arts
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence, RI | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | New York, NY | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Austin Community College District | Austin, TX | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Haywood Community College | Clyde, NC | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston, MA | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Flathead Valley Community College | Kalispell, MT | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Maine College of Art & Design | Portland, ME | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Pasadena City College | Pasadena, CA | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| California College of the Arts | San Francisco, CA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Related majors to explore
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Considering this direction?
We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Jewelry Arts field. Read our verdict before you commit.
Is Jewelry Arts worth it? Read verdict