Courses after 12th Arts offer far more variety and career potential than most students realize. Choosing the right one can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re told that Arts has limited options. However, the truth is that this stream opens doors to a wide range of professional, creative, and high-growth career paths. Whether you’re interested in law, design, psychology, hospitality, media, or public service, there’s a course that can align with your goals. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most promising courses after 12th Arts—along with top colleges, job roles, and expected salaries.
Top Degree Courses After 12th Arts
1. Bachelor of Arts (BA) – General
- Duration: 3 years
- Popular Subjects: English, History, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology
- Scope: Teaching, UPSC, Content Writing, Research
- Why choose it? Great for building a strong academic foundation.
Top Colleges:
- Hindu College,Delhi
- Loyola College,Chennai
- St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
2. BA in Psychology
- Duration: 3 years
- Scope: Clinical psychology, counselling, HR, research
- Job Roles: Psychologist (after Master’s), Counsellor, Mental Health Coach
- The growing demand is driven by increasing mental health awareness.
Top Colleges for the BA Program in Psychology are:
- Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Fergusson College, Pune
- Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences(TISS)
- University of Delhi
3. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Duration: 3–4 years
- Ideal for: Drawing, painting, sculpture, and design lovers
- Careers: Artist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Art Director
Top Colleges:
- Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai
- Banaras Hindu University
- College of Art, Delhi
- Shantiniketan (Visva-Bharati University), West Bengal
- Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University
4. BA in Journalism & Mass Communication
- Duration: 3 years
- Scope: Media houses, content creation, advertising, PR, digital marketing
- Job Roles: Journalist, Content Writer, News Anchor, Copywriter
Top Colleges:
- Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi
- Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune
- Christ University, Bangalore
- Jamia Millia Islamia
5. Bachelor of Design (B.Des) / Fashion Design
- Duration: 4 years
- Specializations: Fashion, Communication, Interior, Product, Industrial Design
- Scope: Fashion houses, startups, freelancing, branding agencies
Top Colleges:
- NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology)
- IIT Bombay, B Des at Industrial Design Centre, here’s the link for the course https://www.idc.iitb.ac.in/admission/bdes-admission
- NID (National Institute of Design)
- Pearl Academy
- MIT Institute of Design, Pune
6. Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Duration: 3 years
- Scope: NGOs, government schemes, CSR, mental health support
- Roles: Social Worker, NGO Program Coordinator, CSR Executive
Top Colleges:
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
- Delhi University
- Loyola College, Chennai
- Madras Christian College, Chennai
- St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru
- Jamia Millia Islamia
7. Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM)
- Duration: 3–4 years
- Scope: Hotels, cruise lines, restaurants, airlines, event management
- Roles: Front Office Executive, Chef, Food & Beverage Manager, Housekeeping Supervisor, Event Coordinator, Cabin Crew, Cruise Staff, or Hotel Operations Manager
Top Colleges:
- IHM Pusa, New Delhi
- IHM Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore (under NCHMCT)
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (Manipal)
8. BA LLB (Integrated Law Course)
- Duration: 5 years
- Scope: Legal practice, corporate law, judiciary, UPSC
- Entrance Exams: CLAT, LSAT India, AILET
Top Law Colleges:
- NLSIU, Bangalore
- NLU Delhi
- Symbiosis Law School, Pune
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Faculty of Law, Aligarh Muslim University
- Government Law College, Mumbai
These are just a few of the many professional courses offered by universities and colleges across India. We’ve highlighted some of the top-ranked institutions, including those recognized by the Ministry of Education (MoE). It’s equally important to understand the potential earnings from these career paths, so here’s a rough estimate of the salaries you can expect after completing each course.
High Salary Jobs for Right Courses after 12th Arts Students (with Right Course/Skill)
| Career | Estimated Salary (Entry Level) |
| Civil Servant (UPSC) | ₹6–15 LPA |
| Fashion Designer | ₹4–7 LPA |
| Journalist | ₹3–6 LPA |
| Lawyer | ₹4–6 LPA (can go up to ₹25+ LPA) |
| Psychologist | ₹3–5 LPA (private practice earns
more) |
| Chef | ₹3–5 LPA |
| CSR Executive | ₹5–10 LPA |
As you’ve seen, the Arts stream offers far more than people usually think—from creative fields like design and journalism to impactful careers in law, psychology, and hospitality. The key is to find a course that aligns with your interests and long-term goals. This is just the beginning—we’ll be sharing more in-depth guides on entrance exams, career planning, skill-building, and other courses after 12th Arts students. So stay tuned, and remember: your stream doesn’t limit your success—your choices do.
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