History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States

If you have a passion for art, you should get to a higher that volition nurture your creativity. An fine art schoolhouse will help you to develop your skills and learn more near what it takes to succeed in the professional world of art and design. In this article, I'll give you the details on what defines a great art school and provide a list of the best fine art colleges in the land for undergraduate students.

How Is an Art Schoolhouse Defined for This List?

On this list of the best art schools in the Usa, I but included schools that exclusively cater to fine art and blueprint students.

Proceed in mind that in that location are many other colleges that take fantabulous fine art programs simply are less specialized. Colleges like Yale, UCLA, Tufts, and Columbia besides accept fantastic art programs. I didn't include those schools because this listing is geared toward students who are admittedly certain that they desire to study art at the higher level (and would like to be in an environment with similarly-minded people).

At that place are huge advantages to going to a specialized fine art college if you lot fall into this category of students. You will make friends with other people who share your interests and who may inspire you to expand your creative horizons. You too will have the benefit of being in a place where fine art is never a secondary concern. Career services volition be devoted to helping students in artistic fields interruption into the job world, and you can usually brand even better connections with working artists at these schools. If you know that you programme on studying in an creative field, the schools on this list are swell college options.

At a schoolhouse full of art students, everyone has paint on their hands at all times, and you can be as pretentious as you want without facing judgment!

What Makes These Art Schools the Best?

There are several factors to consider in determining what makes an fine art school bang-up. First of all, it should have a various and modern curriculum. A great fine art schoolhouse equips students with the skills they need to enter a rapidly changing, highly competitive job market. It should offer a broad diverseness of programs that are in step with electric current artistic trends and movements. The all-time art schools are invested in providing students with education in pattern practices that are shaping the globe'due south artistic mural today.

A great art school should have splendid facilities for students, with access to the latest technology and artistic tools. Many of the schools on this list have extensive digital labs, on-campus art museums, and workshops that provide students with the ability to do metalworking, laser cutting, woodworking, and other less accessible artistic disciplines.

The quality of the faculty is important equally well. The all-time art schools employ professors who are too successful working artists and leaders in their fields. Reputation is another factor that ties into this. If the alumni of a school have been successful in their careers, the school will have ameliorate name recognition and provide y'all with more future opportunities.

The schools on this list accept stiff combinations of these qualities (and more!). They encourage students to think critically most art-making in the context of modern club and provide students with great opportunities to find their niche within the heady world of art and blueprint.

The art world is always in flux. Is this "graffiti" or "street art"? Or is it both? As methods and standards modify, and then do the curricula at art schools!

The Best Fine art Schools in the Usa

For each of the schools on this list, I will provide admissions statistics and information nigh awarding requirements. I've also listed a few facts that volition requite yous a sense of what these institutions offer to undergraduate art students.

#1: Rhode Island School of Design: Providence, RI

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,009
Acceptance rate: 24%
Average GPA: three.6
Average SAT score: 1310
Boilerplate Human action score: 29

Special Requirements

Prospective applicants are urged to follow a college preparatory program in secondary school, taking courses in studio art and art history where possible. A portfolio submission is required for admissions consideration.

Your portfolio should show a option of 12–20 examples of your best recent artwork. This piece of work may exist presented in any medium (including movie or video) in either finished or sketch form. It tin can be the consequence of an assigned project or a cocky-directed artistic exploration. You lot'll also need to transport in two drawing samples. For more details, see the admissions website.

Notable Facts

The campus museum displays over eighty,000 works of art, then inspiration abounds! RISD offers advanced tools and resource to its students, including laser cutters and a kiln room. RISD besides employs many famous faculty members similar Chris Van Allsburg (who illustrated The Polar Express!).

Rhode Island Schoolhouse of Blueprint

#ii: Schoolhouse of the Art Found of Chicago: Chicago, IL

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,487
Credence rate: 49%
Average GPA: 3.5
Boilerplate SAT score: 1230
Average ACT score: 25

Special Requirements

In club to be considered for access, you will need to submit an artist's statement that represents you and your work. Yous are besides required to submit a portfolio that showcases 10-15 examples of your best and most recent work. There are no limitations on the artistic medium! For more details, meet the admissions website.

Notable Facts

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a facility called the Estimator Resources and Data Technologies Center, which ensures that students get access to and training on the latest digital equipment. There are also unique program offerings like art therapy and visual communication. SAIC has many distinguished alumni, including Walt Disney.

Schoolhouse of the Art Institute of Chicago

#iii: California Institute of the Arts: Valencia, CA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 982
Acceptance charge per unit: 23%
Boilerplate GPA: Non reported
Average SAT score: Non reported
Average Human action score: Not reported

Special Requirements

Yous are required to submit 20 examples of your most contempo and highest quality independent artwork for your portfolio. You'll also demand to include an artist'southward statement. For more information, run across the schoolhouse's admission website.

Notable Facts

All kinesthesia members at the California Institute of the Arts are working artists with lots of real globe artistic experience. Every pupil is assigned a mentor who guides them through the programme and assists them in independent study. CalArts has eight galleries dedicated to showing student work and helping students go accustomed to hanging and presenting art in various forms.

The schoolhouse provides extensive facilities for student use including various media labs and a "Super Shop" for processes such every bit woodworking, metalworking, and moldmaking. I'm not sure why they chose to become with "CalArts" as the shortened version of the school's name when CIA was an choice.

California Institute of the Arts

#four: Pratt Institute: New York, NY

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,483
Acceptance rate: 49%
Boilerplate GPA: 3.85
Boilerplate SAT score: 1300
Average Human activity score: 28

Special Requirements

Y'all are required to submit a portfolio that includes 12-20 examples of your best piece of work. You must also submit three to five observational drawings to demonstrate your drafting skills. For more data, encounter the school'southward admissions website. For more information, run across the school'southward admissions website.

Notable Facts

Pratt is located in New York City, and so you lot'll have access to all kinds of nifty internship opportunities and connections to the art world. Faculty members are working artists with international reputations equally well as dedicated teachers. Students go costless access to the Frick Drove, the MOMA, the Whitney Museum, and more than.

Pratt Institute

#5: Maryland Institute College of Art: Baltimore, MD

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,696
Credence rate: 64%
Average GPA: 3.47
Boilerplate Sabbatum score: 1200
Average ACT score: 25

Special Requirements

You must submit a portfolio of 12 to 20 pieces of artwork for consideration. For more data, please meet the school's access website.

Notable Facts

The Maryland Institute incorporates internships and other professional development activities into its curriculum to give students a strong foundation for careers in the arts. There are over 150 exhibitions per year by Maryland Institute students, faculty, and visitors. A strong advising system guides students through all four years at MICA.

Maryland Institute College of Art

#6: ArtCenter College of Design: Pasadena, CA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 2,062
Acceptance rate: fourscore%
Average GPA: 3.39
Average Sabbatum score: 1250
Boilerplate ACT score: Not reported

Special Requirements

There are different portfolio requirements for unlike majors, but, in general, you are required to submit 10 to 15 pieces of artwork. Run across the admissions site for more details.

Notable Facts

This school is for students who know exactly what they want to do: Art Center gives students a comprehensive instruction in their chosen discipline starting on twenty-four hours one and there is no commencement-year general instruction program. However, the Transdisciplinary Studios program as well allows students to interact with each other across different majors. Art Heart College of Design partners up with companies and organizations in their Designmatters program to sponsor student projects that will make a real bear on on the world.

ArtCenter College of Pattern

#7: California Higher of the Arts: Oakland, CA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,466
Acceptance rate: 23%
Boilerplate GPA: Non reported
Boilerplate SAT score: Not reported
Average Human action score: Not reported

Special Requirements

First-yr applicants are asked to submit 10 to 20 images of their best piece of work as a portfolio sample. For more information, check out the school's access website.

Notable Facts

The kinesthesia is comprised of leaders in diverse artistic fields, and one-on-one attention is mutual (average student-instructor ratio is eight:one). It's also known as one of the nearly various colleges in the U.s.a.. Academically, CCA includes a First Twelvemonth Program that introduces students to studio do and incorporates a portfolio review at the end of the year to appraise students' readiness for the majors. There is also a First Twelvemonth Educatee Exhibition every twelvemonth. CCA offers numerous resource for professional evolution and networking in the arts that will aid students to start fulfilling careers.

#8: School of Visual Arts: New York, NY

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 3,872
Acceptance rate: 70%
Boilerplate GPA: 3.34
Boilerplate Sat score: 1190
Average Human activity score: 26

Special Requirements

You will need to submit a argument of intent describing why you lot're pursuing undergraduate study in the visual arts. You must also submit images of xv-20 pieces of your all-time work for your portfolio. Yous tin can decide to submit a film reel instead if y'all're interested in studying film. Exist sure to check out the schoolhouse's admissions website for more than info.

Notable Facts

In that location are three galleries at SVA that present over 50 exhibitions every twelvemonth, so students accept frequent opportunities to show their work. SVA has an Internship for Credit program that allows students to work with meridian creative agencies in New York Metropolis. The Digital Imaging Center and Print Lab offers all-encompassing technological resources to students studying graphic design and advertising or enrolled in classes at the Middle.

School of Visual Arts

#9: Parsons the New Schoolhouse for Design: New York, NY

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: seven,444
Acceptance charge per unit: 51%
Boilerplate GPA: 3.42
Average Sat score: 1210
Average Deed score: 26

Special Requirements

Prospective applicants must complete the "Parsons Challenge," an creative project exploring something that is usually overlooked in their environment. Run across the admissions site for more details on this. (I kind of want to exercise information technology simply for kicks!) Applicants must as well submit a portfolio of eight-12 pieces of recent artwork and an artist'south statement.

Notable Facts

Parsons incorporates digital arts strongly into its undergraduate curriculum, particularly in get-go-year coursework. Parsons besides has a special showtime-year study programme that teaches students to recollect creatively across different disciplines. With its location at the centre of the New York art scene, this is a neat identify for students to explore different methods of art-making and learn how to plough their creative passion into a career.

Parsons The New School for Design

#x: Massachusetts College of Fine art and Design: Boston, MA

Statistics

Undergraduate enrollment: 1,955
Acceptance charge per unit: 71%
Average GPA: 3.45
Average SAT score: 1170
Average ACT score: 24

Special Requirements

You must submit a portfolio with xv-20 examples of your strongest and most recent artwork. You lot will too need to include a statement of purpose that describes y'all as an artist. See their admissions website for more info.

Notable Facts

MassArt is the nation'south showtime independent public college of art and design. The college has 7 on-campus gallery spaces, routinely featuring piece of work from students, faculty, and visiting artists. Degrees are offered in a wide variety of disciplines, from Industrial Design to Animation to Art Education.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Which Art School Is the All-time Option for Y'all?

All of the schools on this list will give you a cracking educational activity in the arts, but some of them might exist meliorate fits than others for you and your interests. Location is a big cistron to consider in deciding on the right fine art school for you. A few of these schools are located in the middle of New York City, which might be an awesome place for some students just an overwhelming place for others. Learn more nearly the differences between colleges in urban and rural environments.

You should also consider the plan offerings of each school. The School of Visual Arts, for instance, is a smashing place for picture majors. Parsons is a cracking place for students who are interested in fashion and digital arts.

If you're still not sure exactly what you desire to report in the arts, you should choose a schoolhouse that has a beginning-year general education program and a potent advising system like California College of the Arts. If y'all are sure of what you want to study, yous might choose a school similar Art Middle Higher of Design, which allows students to begin working in their chosen major from mean solar day one without whatever general educational activity requirements.

Admissions statistics are important as well. If your grades aren't spectacular, yous should look for a school where admission is granted mainly based on artistic talent and a lower GPA and exam scores won't ruin your chances. Some of these schools tin can be very competitive, merely if you present an impressive portfolio, yous can wait to have a shot at admission.

What's Next?

If you're planning on going to art schoolhouse, you'll need to create a portfolio of your all-time work. Larn more about how to make a swell portfolio that will impress your dream school.

Interested in studying film? Read our article on how to go into flick school.

Are you worried well-nigh how your test scores might affect your chances of attending higher? This commodity will tell you when SAT and Human activity scores don't matter in the admissions process.

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your Human action score by iv points? We've written a guide for each examination about the tiptop 5 strategies yous must be using to accept a shot at improving your score. Download information technology for free now:

Have friends who besides need help with test prep? Share this commodity!

Well-nigh the Author

Samantha is a blog content author for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other bookish challenges through her manufactures. Samantha is also passionate almost art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high schoolhouse, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, five's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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