Watkins College of Art and Design

Name

Watkins College of Art and Design

Legal name

Belmont University

Website

https://watkins.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Art and Design

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAJAB

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Arts, Music & Design Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAJAA

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Arts, Music & Design Colleges

SECONDARYEDAMAAAB

Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Arts & Creative Enrichment (Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance)

Keywords

• Art and design education
• Undergraduate fine arts
• Graduate visual arts
• Community art programs
• Pre-college art programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from student tuition for BFA, BA, and MFA programs in various art and design disciplines. Part of Belmont University's comprehensive fee structure.
2. Scholarship Funding Distribution: While scholarships represent outflow rather than revenue, the college awards $1M in scholarships annually to students, demonstrating institutional investment in attracting talent.
3. Community Education Programs: Revenue from community education courses and teen art and design programs for non-degree-seeking participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Watkins College of Art and Design is a private art and design school operating as a constituent college of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. It delivers studio-based Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and a low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Arts, along with community education courses and a Teen Art & Design Program. Teaching is supported by four on-campus professional galleries used for student exhibitions.

Product overview

Watkins College of Art and Design at Belmont University is an educational institution offering a structured portfolio of degree programs across art and design disciplines. The core offerings consist of undergraduate BFA programs (intensive studio-based training in illustration, photography, experiential design, design communications, and art education), BA programs with liberal arts flexibility, and a low-residency MFA in Visual Arts for working professionals. Supplementary offerings include Community Education programs for the broader Nashville community and a Teen Art & Design Program for pre-college students. Four student galleries provide professional exhibition spaces. These programs collectively prepare students for creative careers through studio practice, industry connections, and portfolio development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Programs
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) Programs
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Visual Arts
• Community Education Programs
• Teen Art & Design Program

Quantifiable outcome

• High job placement rate reflecting professional preparation and industry connections
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pratt Institute: Pratt is a private art, design, and architecture college offering BFA and MFA programs in illustration, communications design, photography, and fine arts. It is a direct competitor for prospective art and design students seeking career-focused creative education.
• Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA): MICA is a private art and design college in Baltimore offering BFA and MFA programs in illustration, graphic design, photography, and art education — closely aligned with Watkins's program mix and target student demographic.
• Columbia College Chicago: Columbia College Chicago is a private arts-focused college offering BFA and BA programs in art, design, photography, and creative writing. It is comparable to Watkins as a private arts college targeting creative-industry careers.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): RISD is one of the most prestigious standalone art and design colleges in the U.S., offering undergraduate and graduate programs in illustration, photography, graphic design, and fine arts. It competes for the same applicant pool as Watkins at the higher-prestige end of the market.
• Parsons School of Design (The New School): Parsons is a private art and design school offering BFA and MFA programs in illustration, design, photography, and fine arts, embedded within The New School. It competes with Watkins for design-oriented students, particularly those interested in urban creative-industry careers.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): SCAD is a leading private art and design college offering BFA, BA, and MFA programs across illustration, photography, design, and visual arts — closely mirroring Watkins's core offerings but at significantly larger scale and national reach. It is the most directly comparable specialist art/design higher-education institution.
• Otis College of Art and Design: Otis is a private art and design college in Los Angeles offering BFA programs in illustration, graphic design, photography, and product design. Comparable to Watkins in scale and program mix, though operating in a larger West Coast creative market.
• Ringling College of Art and Design: Ringling is a private art and design college in Sarasota, Florida, offering BFA programs in illustration, graphic design, photography, and motion design. It is closely comparable to Watkins in size, program mix, and regional/private institution positioning.
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): SAIC is a leading private college of art and design offering BFA and MFA programs across studio arts, design, and visual studies. It is comparable in mission and program structure to Watkins, though at substantially larger scale and national recognition.

Regional players

• Lipscomb University College of Entertainment and the Arts: Lipscomb University is a Nashville-area private university that, like Belmont (Watkins's parent), offers art and design programs locally. It competes with Watkins for Nashville-area applicants and represents the closest regional competitor in the same metropolitan market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/belmontu
• Facebookfacebook.com/83008261370
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/belmont-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/belmontu
• TikToktiktok.com/@belmontu
• Xx.com/watkinscollege

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Watkins College of Art and Design