Concept art diploma or degree: how to choose
A concept art diploma is a one- to two-year program that concentrates on studio skills and a portfolio. A degree, usually a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts, adds general education and takes longer. Studios hire on the portfolio, so the right choice depends on your time, budget and whether you need a degree for other reasons.
By NPC College of Arts & Design. Updated October 2026.
What a diploma gives you
- Almost all of your hours go to drawing, design and software
- One to two years of tuition and living costs in place of four
- Instructors who are usually working in the industry
- A portfolio and job-search preparation built into the final term
What a degree gives you
- A bachelor’s credential, which some employers, graduate schools and immigration programs ask for
- General education: writing, art history, sciences
- More time to mature as an artist and to change direction
- A larger alumni network
What studios look at
In film, games and animation, hiring decisions are made on the portfolio and the interview. A credential can help with work visas and with careers that lead into teaching or art direction later, but it does not replace the work.
You can do both
A transfer agreement lets you start with a diploma and finish a degree in less time. Graduates of the NPC College Concept Design Diploma can apply to College for Creative Studies in Detroit and complete a BFA in Concept Design in three years, with up to 33 credits transferred. Admission to CCS is not guaranteed and depends on meeting CCS’s requirements.
Questions to ask any school
- Who teaches, and what have they worked on?
- Can I see every course in the curriculum, term by term?
- What does graduating student work look like?
- What is the full cost, including fees and materials?
- Is the institution designated or accredited by a government regulator?