What it is
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) is a professional undergraduate degree for visual and performing artists — art, design, theatre, dance, film, and creative writing. Compared with a BA in the arts, a BFA is far more studio- and performance-intensive, typically devoting about two-thirds of coursework to the art form.
The degrees & designations
The BFA is concentrated in the arts. Explore the fields:
How long it takes
About four years of full-time study (roughly 120 credit hours); some fields run to five with co-ops or intensive sequences.
What you study
A BFA centers on intensive studio work, performance, critique, and a portfolio or showcase, with a smaller core of general education. Students build a professional body of work.
Getting in
Admission requires a high school diploma or GED, transcripts, and often essays, recommendations, and (sometimes) tests. Selectivity varies by school and program.
Cost & funding
Cost ranges widely — from lower-cost public in-state tuition to private universities — with grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans commonly used. Starting at a community college can reduce cost.
Where it leads
A BFA prepares graduates for professional careers in the arts — as artists, designers, performers, and creators — and for an MFA, the terminal graduate arts degree.
How it compares
Versus a BA in the arts, the BFA is much more hands-on and pre-professional; the BA is broader and more academic. Choose the BFA for depth in making/performing.
Is it right for you?
A BFA fits students committed to a professional path in visual or performing arts who want maximum studio/performance time.
Explore further
This is a reference guide. Keep exploring:
Key facts
- WhatA professional undergraduate arts degree
- EmphasisStudio/performance-intensive (~2/3 in the art form)
- FieldsArt, design, theatre, dance, film, creative writing
- Vs a BAFar more hands-on and pre-professional
- Leads toArts careers and the MFA
Where to learn more
Keep exploring the resource: