Comparing US Arts Programs

One resource included small, large, public, private, and all art colleges in between. They wanted to make sure our list offered opportunities for everyone to pursue their dreams. [Disclaimer: neither does the 50 ranked arts colleges from this source, nor the few linked below imply that there are not more art college options. Your should build and refine your own short list based on your own interests to learn, region to live in, and possible career options that programs or alumni have fostered.]

Their Ranking Criteria:

  • Graduation rates

  • Degree Accreditation

  • Average starting salary

  • Professor reviews

  • Reputation and student feedback

  • Transferable Credits

CUNY – Hunter College

Department of Art and Art History
New York, NY

University of Denver

School of Art and History
Denver, CO

Pacific Northwest College of Art

Design Arts, Media Arts, and Studio Arts
Portland, OR

Pratt Institute School of Art and Design

[Virtual Tour]

Undergraduate Fine Arts
Brooklyn, NY

Rhode Island School of Design

Department of Fine Arts
Providence, RI

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Art Department
Chicago, IL

ArtCenter College of Design

ArtCenter
Pasadena, CA

San Diego State University

School of Art, Design, and Art History
San Diego, CA

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

  • Bachelor’s in 3D Animation

  • Bachelor’s in Illustration

  • Bachelor’s in Graphic Design

  • Bachelor’s in Game Art

  • 3D Computer Animation

  • 3D Modeling

  • Digital Sculpting

  • Character Rigging

  • Game Animation

  • Digital Painting

  • Drawing

  • 2D Design

  • Color + Space

  • Illustration

  • Graphic Design

UC Santa Cruz

  • The art program at UC Santa Cruz is composed of courses in drawing, animation, painting, photography, sculpture, print media, intermedia, critical theory, electronic art, public art, environmental art, social art practice, and interactive technologies.

  • Students graduating with a major in art may become professional artists or pursue careers in such diverse areas as arts administration, arts management, museum education, art direction, communication design, web design, digital imaging, curating, art education, multi-media specialist, industry consultant, model maker, and publishing.

  • Many students who want to teach at the college level continue their education in graduate school.

  • UC Santa Cruz has a specialty for Game & Playable Media Design.

  • “A day in the life of a film studies student at UCSC.”

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