You Do Not Need an Arts Degree to be a Successful Artist

This paper argues that one does not need a degree in order to be an artist. It also furthers the notion that a large portion of graduates do not work in fields related to their major. It serves as a standing ground to prove that a degree, or lack thereof, does not confine a person to an occupation within that field and that field only. With statistics and information from many resources, this paper addresses not only the encompassing ideas mentioned, but also acknowledges the issues and experiences working artists (with and without degrees) tend to face such as: college loan debt and difficulty continuing practice within the arts. It also addresses some extremely well-known artists who have not pursued a degree (within the arts or not) but have been able to become extremely successful. Along with the data sourced and listed within the paper, personal experience of the author is shared as well.