A pursuit of any higher education is a long and arduous journey. It can also be an expensive one. Fortunately for the new art student, free online art schools are available to either test the waters to decide if it is the right path to take, or advance the skills that you already have. Not to mention that you have the ability to learn at your own pace without the pressure of attending class. That's not to say that it's easy, just that it's possible.

For the art student on a budget there is a whole world of possibilities available for learning at one of the many free online art schools or art lesson websites. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual salary for a graphic designer is $39,900. More employers focus on talent and portfolio rather than an art degree so with practice and patience, an online education may be just what you need.

There are free online art schools to fit any area that you are interested in. Do you want to learn the basics like perspective and color, or do you want something deeper like painting with oils, sculpting, or drawing? Maybe you don't want to create art at all but would like to study it instead.

When deciding between free online art schools, there are a few key elements to look for. Check for community support in the form of chat sessions or forums. A classroom forum with active users will help you get feedback on your progress and make learning easier. Have a look through their student gallery to see what others are doing at your level. Make sure that you will be challenged but guided throughout the process.

More and more major colleges and universities are offering part of their curriculum for free online. Massachusetts Institute of Technology has several art courses available online for download. The University of Utah offers free online courses on art history if you're more interested in studying art than actually creating it.

Always be mindful of online scam artists, and there are a few, who will get you to sign up and give them a lot of personal information before they break the news that the course isn't going to be free after all. Any aspiring artist should always use caution when signing up for free online art schools and never give out bank or credit card information unless you're sure about what you're buying. Some schools will require you to purchase books or materials to use during the coarse.