Table of Contents
1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
3. California Institute of the Arts
4. Yale University School of Art
5. Maryland Institute College of Art
7. Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
9. UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
11. Columbia University School of the Arts
13. Savannah College of Art and Design
14. University of Pennsylvania
15. NYU Tisch School of the Arts
How Kings Can Help You Study Arts at a Top US University
There are hundreds of schools across the US offering excellent art programs. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject for 2023, 8 of the current Top 20 Art & Design programs are in the United States.
Whilst some, such as the Rhode Island School of design, are specialized art schools, with a unique focus on the arts, others are larger universities that offer degrees in various artistic disciplines through a dedicated art department. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Yale University are a couple of examples.
Whatever the type of institute, a great art school should offer a wide variety of programs that reflect current artistic trends and movements, and equip students with the skills they need to enter an ever evolving and competitive job market. It should also have excellent facilities for students, with access to the latest technology and artistic tools, and of course talented and experienced faculty.
In this article, we look at some of the top schools and colleges in the US for studying art, taking into account factors such as academic standing, areas of specialization, and access to state-of-the-art facilities.
1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a private, four-year school located in the state’s capital, Providence
Image source: Rhode Island School of Design
- One of the oldest and most esteemed art schools in the nation, RISD offers nearly 20 bachelor’s and master’s programs, with fine arts being the most popular major.
- The school is home to one of the top-ranked master’s programs in fine arts, which can include a range of specializations, such as photography, sculpture, metals/jewelry, graphic design, glassware, and more.
- The campus has an extensive art museum with rotating exhibits and a nature lab with animals, plants, and specimens for students to study and reference in their art.
- Notable RISD alumni include Seth MacFarlane, who created the animated series Family Guy.
- US News and World report currently ranks the Rhode Island School of Design #5 for Best Fine Arts Programs, #4 in Ceramics, #1 in Graphic Design, #2 in Painting / Drawing, #3 in Photography, #2 in Printmaking, #4 in Sculpture and #7 in Time-Based Media / New Media.
- QS World University rankings place RISD #3 globally for Art and Design.
Location
Providence, Rhode Island.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for RISD are $57,505 (US News and World Report).
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for Rhode Island School of Design is 19%.
2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a private institution that was founded in 1866. For over 150 years, it has been a leader in art education; training the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars.
Image source: School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
- Located in downtown Chicago, a large and bustling city with a renowned arts scene and diverse artistic community, SAIC offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels in a variety of creative disciplines, including fine arts, design, writing, and performance.
- SAIC is known for its cutting-edge curricula, focus on experimentation and critical thinking, and provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design.
- It also has world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Among its many distinguished alumni are Walt Disney and Nick Cave.
- US News and World report currently ranks SAIC #2 in Best Fine Arts Programs, #2 in Painting / Drawing, #3 in Photography, #6 in Printmaking, #4 in Sculpture and #5 in Time-Based Media / New Media.
- QS World University rankings place SAIC #11 globally for Art and Design.
Location
Chicago, Illinois.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) are $54,530.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is 78%.
3. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
CalArts is a private art college in Valencia, California, that was established in 1961 by Walt Disney by merging the Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. It became the first higher education institution that combined visual and performing arts.
Image source: CalArts
- Offering a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through six schools—Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater—CalArts has championed creative excellence, critical reflection, and the development of new forms and expressions.
- Admission to CalArts is competitive and considered mainly on the basis of demonstrated artistic merit, as assessed by the faculty of the individual programs.
- Based in Valencia, north of Los Angeles, CalArts further extends its commitment to the arts through the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) in downtown L.A. and the nationally emulated Community Arts Partnership (CAP) youth arts program.
- US News and World report currently ranks CalArts #5 in Best Fine Arts Programs, #9 in Painting / Drawing, #9 in Photography, #9 in Sculpture and #3 in Time-Based Media / New Media.
Location
Valencia, California.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for California Institute of the Arts are $53,466.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for California Institute of the Arts is 27%.
4.Yale University School of Art
The School of Art at Ivy League Yale University was founded in 1860s, and was the first art school connected with an institution of higher learning in the United States.
Image source: Yale University - School of Art
- Yale School of Art grants Masters of Fine Arts degrees to students completing a two-year course in graphic design, painting/printmaking, photography, or sculpture.
- It also offers an undergraduate art degree (bachelor’s degree) for students in Yale College.
- The School's galleries in Green Hall and EIK at 32 Edgewood Avenue provide a year-round forum for the exhibition of work by students, faculty, and special guests in the four graduate departments of the School and the undergraduate program.
- US News and World report currently ranks Yale University #2 in Best Fine Arts Programs (tie), #2 in Graphic Design, #1 in Painting / Drawing, #1 in Photography and#2 in Sculpture.
Location
New Haven, Connecticut.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Yale University are $62,250.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for Yale University is 5%.
5.Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is a private art and design university in Baltimore, Maryland that was founded in 1826. It is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art in the US.
Image source: Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
- MICA provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of artistic fields, including design, education, and fine arts.
- It is recognized for its multidisciplinary educational philosophy, and the priority placed on community involvement, and dedication to diversity and inclusiveness.
- The Baltimore Museum of Art, which gives students access to highly regarded art exhibitions and collections, is also on campus.
- US News and World report currently ranks MICA #8 for Best Fine Arts Programs, #4 in Graphic Design, #6 in Painting / Drawing and #6 in Sculpture.
Location
Baltimore, Maryland.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Maryland Institute College of Art are $53,815.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for Maryland Institute College of Art is 86%.
6. Pratt Institute
Established in 1887, The Pratt Institute is based in New York, a city which offers students all kinds of great internship opportunities and connections to the art world.
Image source: Pratt Institute
- The school's main campus is in Brooklyn, but it aalso has a building in Manhattan as well as a campus in Utica, New York. Students get free access to the Frick Collection, the MOMA, the Whitney Museum, and more.
- Based on the principle of "Poetic Pragmatism," academic programs at the school emphasize balancing practical skills with an artistic vision in hopes of improving the world.
- Pratt Institute is well known for some of its graduate programs, including fine arts, architecture, interior design, industrial design and graphic design. The school also offers graduate degree programs through its School of Information.
- Notable artists who have attended the Pratt Institute include William Van Alen, the architect of the Chrysler Building and celebrated actor Robert Redford.
- US News and World report currently ranks Pratt Institute #15 in Best Fine Arts Programs and #11 in Painting / Drawing.
- QS World University rankings 2023 place Pratt Institute #6 globally for Art and Design.
Location
New York City, New York.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Pratt Institute are $57,599.
Acceptance rate
The Pratt Institute has an admissions rate of 62%.
7. Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
Founded in 1928, Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts is an acclaimed, public, non-profit, accredited four-year art and design school housed within a major research university.
Image source: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
- VCUarts is made up of 16 buildings on the urban VCU campus in Richmond, Virginia. Students enjoy close proximity to many arts and cultural institutions within the city.
- VCUarts has been a top-ranked public university visual arts and design graduate program in the country by U.S. News & World Report since 2003.
- The 16 departments and areas of study offered in Richmond include, among others, Art History, Craft/Material Studies, Dance and Choreography, Graphic Design, Music, Painting and Printmaking, Photography and Film, Sculpture + Extended Media, and Theatre.
- VCUarts is especially renowned for its sculpture programs, and its foundry and metal fabrication shop are state-of-the-art.
- US News and World report currently ranks Virginia Commonwealth University #4 in Best Fine Arts Programs, #1 in Sculpture #4 in Graphic Design, #12 in Painting / Drawing, #2 in Printmaking, and #5 in Time-Based Media / New Media.
Location
Richmond, Virginia.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts are $15,642 (jn-state) and $36,898 (out of state).
Acceptance rate
Virginia Commonwealth University has an admissions rate of 93%.
8. Carnegie Mellon University
Combining a renowned studio program with the interdisciplinary resources of a cutting-edge research university, the School of Art at Carnegie Mellon University prides itself on being one of the most progressive environments for student learning.
Image source: Carnegie Mellon University
- The School of Art provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs in fine arts, design, and interdisciplinary practice.The curriculum includes contextual practice, critical theory and emerging technologies alongside traditional programs in painting, drawing and sculpture.
- Students have access to a range of cutting-edge facilities, including multipurpose classrooms, media-specific studios and workshops, student and faculty studios, presentation rooms and exhibition spaces, offering students 24-hour access to both traditional and state-of-the-art tools. The School of Art occupies over 50,000 square feet of fabrication facilities.
- Students have many opportunities to exhibit work both on campus and with the city's grassroots arts organizations. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs have galleries that students program and manage, and thesis exhibitions are held at the university's Miller Institute for Contemporary Art.
- US News and World report currently ranks Carnegie Mellon #7 in Best Fine Arts Programs and #1 in Time-Based Media / New Media.
- QS World University rankings 2023 place Pratt Institute #17 globally for Art and Design.
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Carnegie Mellon University are $61,344.
Acceptance rate
Carnegie Mellon University has an acceptance rate of 14%.
9. UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
The UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture (UCLA Arts) is one of 12 prestigious professional schools at the University. It offers programs in four degree-granting departments: Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design | Media Arts, and World Arts and Cultures/Dance.
Image source: UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
- Students at UCLA Arts have unparalleled opportunities to learn from and interact with distinguished faculty who rank among the most accomplished artists, designers, architects, performers, ethnographers, and scholars of this generation.
- Innovative and rigorous programs combine studio-based practice with critical studies and liberal arts scholarship—all within the context of a leading research university.
- UCLA’s eight research centers foster connections between the arts and other disciplines, bringing together creativity and research to address issues such as global health, climate change, and other critical challenges of the 21st century.
- The school also has two public arts institutions, the Hammer Museum and Fowler Museum at UCLA.
- US News and World report currently ranks UCLA #1 in Best Fine Arts Programs, #8 in Painting / Drawing, #2 in Photography, #2 in Sculpture and #2 in Time-Based Media / New Media.
Location
Los Angeles, California.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for UCLA are $13,804 (in-state) and $44,830 (out of state).
Acceptance rate
UCLA has an acceptance rate of 11%.
10.Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
The arts at MIT are rooted in experimentation and imaginative problem solving. The Institute offers highly regarded degree programs in architectural design; art, culture, and technology; comparative media studies; history, theory, and criticism of architecture and art; music; theater arts; and writing. Undergraduate minors are also offered in several of these fields.
Image source: Arts at MIT
- Many MIT faculty have received awards in recognition of their work in the arts, including the Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, and MacArthur Fellowship. MIT students are also strong contributors to the vibrant arts culture that permeates campus life.
- The MIT List Visual Arts Center is the Institute’s contemporary art museum. Its core mission is to exhibit, collect, and commission visual arts for MIT. The List presents six to eight exhibitions annually in conjunction with a broad range of education programs free to both the MIT community and the general public. It also maintains and adds to MIT’s permanent collection of more than 3,500 artworks that includes over 60 public sculptures and hundreds of paintings, prints, photographs, and drawings located throughout campus.
- QS World University rankings 2023 place MIT #5 globally for Art and Design.
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for MIT are $57,986.
Acceptance rate
MIT has an acceptance rate of 4%.
11. Columbia University School of the Arts
The School of Arts at Ivy League Columbia University is a thriving, diverse community of talented artists from around the world and a faculty comprised of acclaimed and internationally renowned artists, film and theatre directors, writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, playwrights, producers, critics, and scholars.
Image source: Columbia University School of the Arts
- Columbia University School of the Arts awards the Master of Fine Arts degree in Film, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Writing and the Master of Arts degree in Film and Media Studies; it also offers an interdisciplinary program in Sound Art.
- The School is regarded as an innovative graduate professional school with a tradition of risk-taking, grounded in a deeply intellectual Ivy League university and energized by an enviable location in New York City—one of the great cultural capitals of the world.
- US News and World report currently ranks Columbia University #10 in Best Fine Arts Programs, #4 in Painting / Drawing and #9 in Sculpture.
Location
New York City, New York.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Columbia University are $65,524.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Columbia University is 6%.
12. Parsons School of Design (New School)
Parsons School of Design is one of five schools and colleges at the nationally ranked New School in New York City.
Image source: The New School - Parsons School of Design
- The School enjoys a prime location in the heart of Greenwich Village, and students can choose from many Bachelor of Fine Arts programs including fashion design, illustration, photography, interior design, design and technology, and integrated design.
- Notable alumni include former president and creative director of J.Crew, Jenna Lyons, and Grammy Award-winning actor Bradley Cooper.
- US News and World report currently ranks the New School #15 in Best Fine Arts Programs.
- QS World University rankings 2023 place the New School #4 globally for Art and Design.
Location
New York City, New York.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the New School are $53,335.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for the New School is 66%.
13. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit university, offering more than 40 programs of study across 11 schools. The University for Creative Careers, as it is known, has more programs and specializations than any other art and design university in the US.
Image source: Savannah College of Art and Design
- The university now operates two locations in Georgia, a degree-granting location in Hong Kong, a degree-granting online education program, and a study abroad location in Lacoste, France with rotating course offerings.
- Schools at the University are: School of Animation and Motion, School of Building Arts, The De Sole School of Business Innovation, School of Creative Technology, School of Design, School of Fashion, School of Film and Acting, School of Fine Arts, School of Foundation Studies, School of Liberal Arts and School of Visual Communication.
- Undergraduate students can complete either a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Graduate students have the options of a Master of Architecture, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Urban Design.
- The most highly enrolled majors in Fall 2017 were animation, fashion, film and television, illustration and interior design.
- SCAD has been ranked as the #1 fashion design school in the US by the fashion education resource site Fashion Schools. US News and World Report currently ranks it #158 in Best Fine Arts Programs.
- QS World University rankings 2023 place SCAD #16 globally for Art and Design.
Location
Savannah, Georgia.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) are $39,105.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at Savannah College of Art and Design is 81%.
14. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design is the design school of Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.
Image source: University of Pennsylvania - School of Arts and Sciences
- It offers degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, city and regional planning, historic preservation, and fine arts, as well as several dual degrees with other graduate schools at the University of Pennsylvania. Formerly known as PennDesign, it was renamed in 2019 after award-winning designer and footwear icon Stuart Weitzman.
- Weitzman students enjoy access to all 12 Schools at the University, including Wharton, Engineering, and Social Policy. Dual degree offerings and certificates add further breadth to study at the Weitzman School.
- One of the most affordable cities of its size in the Northeast, Philadelphia has a renowned arts and music scene, and many interesting architectural landmarks and buildings.
- US News and World Report currently ranks the University of Pennsylvania #64 in Best Fine Arts Programs.
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for the University of Pennsylvania are $63,452.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate for the University of Pennsylvania is 6%.
15.NYU Tisch School of the Arts
The School of the Arts at New York University was founded in 1965 to provide rigorous conservatory training in theater and film in the context of a great research university.
Image source: NYU - Tisch School of Arts
- The school quickly established itself as one of the leading arts schools in the country, creating additional departments of dance, theater design and lighting, and cinema studies within a few short years.
- It offers both undergraduate degrees and graduate programs in acting, dance, dramatic writing, film, television and more.
- In 1982, a gift from Laurence A. and Preston Robert Tisch made possible the acquisition and renovation of 721 Broadway, where most of the school’s programs are currently housed.
- Former Tisch students include directors Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee.
- US News and World Report currently ranks NYU Tisch School of the Arts #64 in Best Fine Arts Programs.
Location
New York City, New York.
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees for New York University are $58,168.
Acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at NYU is 13%.
How Kings Can Help You Study Arts at a Top US University
Elite universities demand elite students. They are looking for more than just great grades, and at Kings we’ll help you stand out from the crowd.
We’ll ensure you develop to become not just the type of student which the Top 100 universities accept each year. But a student who will thrive and excel once you are there.
For students aspiring to major in Fine Arts/ Performing Arts/ Music, our Guaranteed Outcome programs offer direct progression to a range of high quality Art & Design institutions throughout the US.
You will spend your first year, or first and second year, at one of our partner universities before you are ready to transfer to a top Art School, from where you will graduate. You will be fully supported on campus, with a dedicated Student Success Advisor to help you reach your dream university.
Top art schools to have accepted Kings students include:
- Parsons (The New School)
- Pratt Institite
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Fashion Institute of Technology
- University of Rochester
- Boston University
- UC San Diego
- UC Davis
- UW Madison
- University of Georgia
- St Louis University
- Arizona State University
- Otis College of Art and Design
Majors have included Animation, Architecture, Art History, Design, Digital Media, Fashion Merchandising, Film Production, Film Studies, Fine Arts, Game Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design and Product Design.
English language programs
For anyone who has already decided on their chosen Art degree and college, our range of English language programs can be the ideal preparation for university success.
Whether you’re looking for a general English program, an exam preparation course (such as TOEFL or IELTS) or a specialized English for Fashion program, there are a range of options across our locations in the US (Boston, New York and LA) and the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the #1 art school in the US?
The #1 art school in the US is UCLA, according to US News and World Report’s ranking of Fine Art Schools. However, the best school for you will depend not only on rankings, but also on your intended specialization, as well as factors such as tuition costs, location and size. All are important considerations when choosing the best school for your specific goals and needs.
Q2. What is the hardest school in the US?
Ivy League institutions such as Harvard, Yale and Columbia are often considered the hardest universities to get in to, and among the most challenging in terms of curricula and academic expectation. However, there are many other universities and colleges which rival them in academic terms, from schools like Stanford and Berkeley on the West Coast to MIT and John Hopkins on the East.
Q3. What are the benefits of attending an art school in the US?
There are many benefits to choosing a US university to complete your art education, including the following:
- Excellence and prestige: currently, the US is home to 8 of the top universities for Art and Design in the world. American universities are renowned globally for their excellence, and US degrees are highly valued across all fields.
- Choice: with thousands of universities and colleges, and over 300 accredited fine arts schools in the US, there art students have a wide variety of institutions to choose from, according to their area of specialization.
- World-leading art hubs: America is home to a whole host of cities that are globally known for their vibrant arts scenes, from LA and San Francisco on the West Coast, to New York on the East. Whether you’re planning a career in fine art, graphic design, product design, photography, film-making, or a host of other specializations, there are endless opportunities to gain inspiration and make all-important connections.
Next steps
We hope that this article has helped you understand more about the top art schools in the US, and how Kings Guaranteed Outcome programs and English language courses can help you get there.
If you would like receive more detailed information about the Kings and our programs, please get in touch with us at us.admissions@kingseducation.com.
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