Top 20 Best Art Courses in Nigeria to Study in 2025

What are the best art courses in Nigeria to study in the university and which one is the highest paid?

Choosing a course out of the numerous courses in arts could be confusing due to one factor or the other. In other words, deciding the best art course could be very difficult because there are a few things which you need to consider before deciding which one is the best.

In this post, we shall look at the list of the top 20 best and highest paid art courses to study in the university. I will also share their career opportunities, the best university the study each course and the JAMB cut off mark for each of the courses.

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20 Best Art Courses in Nigeria 2025

The best art course in Nigeria is any course which encourages self employment and scalability.

Research has shown that private owned businesses have experienced massive growth and will keep surging as long as those business keep providing values to the market.

In this instance, the best art courses are:

1. Fine & Applied Arts

This involves painting sculptures and drawing. Encourages one to own a fine art collection which overtime worth millions of Naira or dollars in some cases.

• Career Paths: Visual artist, illustrator, graphic designer
• Top Universities: University of Nigeria, University of Jos
• Cut off mark: 220+

2. Law

This encourages an individual to establish a law firm which overtime grows to become known. However, it requires years of experience and consistent growth.

• Career Paths: Legal practice, advocacy, corporate law
• Top Universities: University of Lagos, University of Ibadan
• Cut off mark: 260+

3. Theatre arts

The study of film making which is one of the most popular and highest paying industries in Nigeria and the world at large.

• Top Universities: University of Calabar, Bayero University
• Career Paths: Actor, director, playwright
• JAMB Score: 220+

4. Music

Music is an aspect of entertainment which is the most popular and highest paying industry in the world of entertainment. Study music as an art student gives you an opportunity to work with already made music artists or even begin to make your own music in the future.

• Career Paths: Composer, performer, music educator, music writer
• Top Universities: University of Lagos, Covenant University, Babcock University
• Cut off mark: 200+

5. Graphic Designing

While this, in a way, may also be seen as technology or science course, it can also be classified as an art course because it deals with bringing imagination or thoughts into reality (aspect of literature). So, let’s say it’s art-in-tech.

6. Fashion Designing

This is another art course in Nigeria which has been making massive waves over the years. The fashion industry has evolved in a way that it requires more professional attention. It also allows you the opportunity to start and scale up a fashion brand.

7. Linguistics

This is the scientific study of language and its structure. This course gives you access and ability to learn diverse languages. You can work as an interpreter which are well paid as such skill is rare.

• Career Paths: Translator, language teacher, computational linguistics
• Top Universities: University of Ilorin, University of Lagos
• JAMB Score: 230+

8. Animation

This involves bringing objects into motion. Animation is in high demand especially for those who are into media and film making. You maybe be employed by a media company for animation making.

9. Psychology

this is the study of human mind. The nature of this course makes its students to operate on a different level of learning. As a psychologist, you have a special skill and could be hired for a special assignment which definitely attracts good payment.

• Career Paths: therapist, HR specialist, Counselor
• Top Universities: University of Ibadan, Covenant University
• Cut off mark: 230+

10. Mass Communication

This refers to the process of creating, sending, receiving, and analysing messages to large audiences, through verbal, written and digital media. Most Nigerians think that mass communication is good for a person who talks a lot and they also believe that such person must be working in a radio station or TV station. On the contrary, mass communication allows you start your own broadcasting station such blogging or YouTube channel. Although you do not need a special skill to work with these platforms.

• Career Paths: Journalism, public relations, media production
• Top Universities: University of Lagos, University of Ilorin
• Cut off mark: 230+

11. International Relations

This is popularly known as History and International Relations (HIR) in Nigeria and it is a course under the art department. It is an art discipline which focuses on how people, and ideas move across the regions of the world. You could be called up as an ambassador for the country in any country in the world.

• Top Universities: University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University
• Career Paths: Government, NGOs, diplomacy
• Cut off mark: 230+

12. Sociology

It is the scientific study of the society which includes human social behavior, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture associated with daily life. Having studied the society at large, you can work under the police and probation services, social and market research.

• Career Paths: Social researcher, HR, community developer, you can work under the police and probation services, social and market research
• Top Universities: University of Ilorin, University of Port Harcourt
• Cut off mark: 230+

13. English and Literary Studies

This course explores a deeper aspect of English language, perfecting its art. With this course, you explore careers like teaching, publishing and content creation.

• Career Paths: Teaching, publishing, content creation
• Top Universities: University of Lagos, University of Ibadan
• Cut off mark: 230+

14. Economic

This is a socio-science course which takes means and ends into studies. As an economist, you can work as an economic analyst in institutions or as a business manager.

• Career Paths: Financial analyst, economist, policy advisor, business manager
• Top Universities: University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University
• Cut off mark: 230+

15. French

This course allows you study french in Nigeria and acquire a degree which quite a rare course. If well grounded in this field, you can work in or with high profile institutions.

• Careers Paths: French Teacher or lecturer, translation, interpretation, and international relations.
• Top Universities: Abia State University, Ambrose Alli University.
• Cut off mark: 230+

16. Performing Arts

This is an art of expressing one’s self through live performance such as drama, dance and other live performance activities.

• Careers Paths: actor, dancer, or theater director.
• Top universities: University of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University.
• Cut of mark: 220+

17. Hospitality and Tourism Management

This involves the study of management and marketing strategy and you may have the opportunity to work with the world tourism and hospitality team.

• Career Paths: hotel manager, tour guide, or event planner.
• Top Universities: Imo State University, Federal University Oye-Ekiti
• Cut off mark: 220+

18. Political Science

This is the study of the government and its political systems in all levels of government (federal, state or local).

• Career Paths: international relations, and public policy analysis.
• Top Universities: University of Lagos, University of Ibadan.
• Cut off mark: 230+

19. Environmental Science

This refers to the study of the environment, it challenge and ways to enhance it for better living. Environmental hazard has done more harm than good to humans and for this reason, professional environmental scientist has been in demand to help analyze and proffer solutions.

• Career Paths: environmental consultancy, conservation, and sustainable development.
• University of Ibadan,op universities: Federal University of Technology, University of Ibadan, Akure.
• Cut off mark: 220+

20. Philosophy

This deals with the study of thoughts and ideas about nature, humans and the life we live in generally.

• Career Paths: Career in academia, research, and consulting.
• Top universities: University of Ibadan, University of Calabar.
• Cut off mark: 220 and above.

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How to Choose the Best Art Course

This section contains the factors determining which art course should be considered the best. These factors include:

1. Job opportunities

The truth still remains that no one is studying a course in Nigeria or anywhere in the world just for the fun of it. There must be one thing or the other which must have made one to study a course.

One and major reason for studying a course is the job opportunity.

Some courses in Nigeria have more job opportunities than others. For instance, one studying law could work in any firm, company or organization either as one of the staffs or as a legal adviser of such group.

Meanwhile, someone who studied medicine and surgery cannot work in just anywhere. He can only work where his services or expertise is needed.

This simply tells that the job opportunities for medicine and surgery students are limited. However, they could be self-employed, where they have their private hospitals licensed by the government.

I JUST BROUGHT IN A SCIENCE COURSE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSE

Some other non professional art courses also have good job opportunities but limited at some point.

2. Potential Earnings or Salary

Which art course pays the most? While picking an art course, the potential or future profit from such is considered.

It has been suggested that art courses in Nigeria does not pay well and students are not able to scale up their ideas.

The truth is that in Nigeria, due to some policies which are in existence and the economic nature of the country, those who studied minor art courses are unable to make ends meet. Only a few persons are making it big in terms of earnings.

Passion

While it is becoming more common that no one does anything for passion anymore in Nigeria, the truth still remains that you may not thrive in what you’re not passionate about.

Go for what you like to do and monetize alone the line. Art, just like the name implies has more of self employment opportunities.

passion comes with what you find joy in doing, it also defines what you can be consistent in and make exploit without so much effort. Therefore, go for your passion first, monetize it by offering your skills as services to the public.

Which career is best for an art student in Nigeria?

Best career opportunities for art students in Nigeria include:

• Movie production
• Music
• Taking up government call-up-to-duty
• Graphic designing
• Interior & exterior decoration
• Advertising
• Journalism

Art Courses that Pay Highest Salary

According to geteducated, high paying art jobs include:

• Art Director
• Producer & Director
• Landscape Architect
• Video Editor
• Graphic Designer
• Drafter
• Art Curator
• Interior Designer

Conclusion

Before choosing any course under art to study, consider the future of the course, check for a course that will pay you well in the future, consider a job with easy job opportunity and finally, consider a course you find joy in studying.

However, if you do not have passion for attending regular Nigerian university, there are schools for skills acquisition

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