Top 10 Art Universities and Schools in the United States
Art is a broad field of study, encompassing visual arts, sound arts and performing arts. Hundreds of schools and universities across the nation offer educational programs in these disciplines. Although ranking may vary, depending upon the area of study and the level of degree, the following schools are generally thought to be some of the best art schools in the country.
Top U.S. Art Schools
1. Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI
The Cranbrook Academy of Art is a small private college near Detroit that takes an artistic community approach to its education, through students sharing their work in the school's gallery. It serves approximately 150 students every year, making it a very small school. It is highly ranked by U.S. News and World Report, placing fourth in the 2008 fine arts schools rankings. It has the highest-ranked fiber arts program in the nation and the second-highest-ranked graphic design and ceramics programs in the nation. In addition to these programs, Cranbrook offers master's degrees in architecture, metalsmithing, painting, photography, print media and sculpturing through a studio teaching setting.
2. Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island
The Rhode Island School of Design is a 4-year private college serving over 2,400 students in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was ranked the number one fine arts school in 2008 by U.S. News & World Report and number one in a number of specific programs, including interior design, graphic design and glass art. Students at Rhode Island School of Design can pursue several degrees, including a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Arts (M.A.) in a variety of other art and design fields, including apparel design, art history, ceramics, film and video, illustration, industrial design, painting, photography and sculpture.
3. School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is another nationally renowned art school. This 4-year private school was ranked number three in U.S. News and World Report's 2008 list of the best fine arts colleges. Approximately 3,200 students attend SAIC, which offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate art programs through a credit/no-credit system. These programs include art education, fashion design, fiber and material studies, historical preservation, art and technology studies, performance art, print media, sound arts and art therapy.
List of Ten Good Art Schools in the U.S.
| School Name | Distinction | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Art Center College of Design | Public programs such as Art Center at Night or Saturday High | Pasadena, CA |
| California Institute of the Arts | The Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) | Valencia, CA |
| Carnegie Mellon University | The Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Columbia University | The new School of the Arts' Global Programs | New York, NY |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art | Community artistic approach to teaching and learning | Bloomfield Hills, MI |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | The Business of Art and Design Master of Professional Studies (MPS) program | Baltimore, MD |
| Rhode Island School of Design | The Graduate IN FOcus information programs | Providence, RI |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Process-based grading system | Chicago, IL |
| University of California - Los Angeles | The Center for Intercultural Performance (CIP) | Los Angeles, CA |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | The Virginia Commonwealth University fine arts program in Qatar | Richmond, VA |
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5 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
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Bachelor
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Distance Learning Programs
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Non-Degree
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- Career Diploma in Artist: Comprehensive
- Certificate - Artistry: Cartooning
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School locations:
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- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
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- Florida (6)
- Georgia (4)
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- Kentucky (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (1)
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Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
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Bachelor
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- BS in Information Technology - Multimedia and Web Development
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School locations:
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Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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- Bachelor in Design & Technical Graphics
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- Certificate in 2-D Animation
- Certificate in 3-D Animation
- Certificate in 3-D Modeling for Games
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- Certificate in Animation Production
- Certificate in Character Animation for Games
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Other Schools:
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School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Art
- Art History
- Ceramics
- Drawing
- Metal and Jewelry Art
- Multimedia Arts
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Weaving and Textile Arts
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
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School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of South Florida include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Art
- Art History
- Musical Arts
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School locations:
- Texas (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Texas Tech University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Art
- Art History
- Musical Arts
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School locations:
- Arizona (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Northern Arizona University include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate
- Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Art
- Art History
- Arts Management
- Ceramics
- Metal and Jewelry Art
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
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School locations:
- Washington (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
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- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Dance
- Design and Applied Arts
- Drama and Theatre Arts
- Fine Arts and Studio Art
- Art
- Art History
- Ceramics
- Metal and Jewelry Art
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Weaving and Textile Arts
- Musical Arts
- Photography, Film, and Video
