Top 4 Best Art Schools In The US In 2023

Are you an aspiring artist looking for the best art schools in the US to get your Arts degree? There are many top art schools in the US to choose from which makes it hard to choose the best one for you. However, finding the right one is essential to help hone your skills, abilities, and knowledge and widen your connections. All these are crucial for your career after graduation. 

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To help you choose the best art school in US for you, we listed the things you should consider and our top 5 picks. Let’s begin.

Art schools in the US are categorized into three:

Liberal Arts Colleges

This is the most traditional way to earn an Arts degree. They offer comprehensive art programs and majors for undergraduate students such as art education, graphic design, visual arts, custom painting of loved ones, and more. 

Specialized Art Schools

These specialized art design schools offer a wide array of degrees and majors like fine arts, fashion design, industrial design, graphic design, architecture, etc.

Art Departments In Universities

Universities offer both undergraduate and graduate art degrees through their dedicated art departments and courses. Depending on the university you’re entering, their Art Department can offer a wide variety of degrees relating to painting, graphic design, photography, sculpture, pencil portrait drawing, etc.

Factors to consider when choosing an art school

Choosing the best art school in the US for yourself is important to hone your skills and art career. The arts program should be in line with your medium, interests, and preferences. Before looking at the best art schools in the US, here are 4 things you must consider.

Location

Is the art school near your home or do you need to move? Can you find a place near the school to lessen your travel time?

Resources

How much money can you spend to finish your education? Will you need to look for scholarships, grants, or financial aid to afford the best art school in the US?

Experiences

Is your portfolio enough to be accepted into the art school? Will they take into consideration your past work or educational experiences to finish your degree?

Career Goals

Are the art programs offered by the school in line with your medium, interest, and goals? Will the art school make it easier for you to get into your chosen art career or work?

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Now you know everything you must consider, here are our top 4 best art schools in the US to narrow down your options. Each art school offers different art degrees and certifications. If you like making a baby pencil sketch or custom oil painting, look for an art school specializing in them.

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Tuition: $54,890

Rhode Island School of Design is one of the oldest and most prestigious art colleges in the US. It was first established in 1877. Located inside the campus is the famous RISD Museum with more than 100,000 art designs and pieces from different parts of the world.

RISD offers both undergraduate and graduate art degrees for a wide variety of art-related and creative fields including architecture, furniture design, textiles, jewelry and metalsmith, sculpture, photography, painting, graphic design, and more. The undergraduate programs in RISD are very demanding with a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:7. 

Yale School of Art

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Tuition: $57,700

Yale University School of the Fine Arts was founded in 1869 and offers Master of Fine Arts degrees. Undergraduate students are required to complete a two-year art course to get their certification. Yale’s MFA art graduate programs include graphic design, printmaking, painting, photography, sculpture, and more. The university has many popular libraries and galleries including Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Art Gallery, the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, and a natural history museum.

When it comes to the teacher-to-student ratio for each graduate program, Yale’s classes have the best one on our list with a 1:6 ratio. The teachers have more time to focus on their undergraduate students. 

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Tuition: $53,160

First established in 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the biggest independent arts schools in the country. SAIC offers art programs for both undergraduate and graduate degrees in various creative fields such as painting, drawing, animation, film, new media, art history, writing, graphic design, performance, and more. 

SAIC's teacher-to-student ratio, they have a 1 to 11 ratio. Compared to other best art schools in the US, SAIC is on the smaller side. It only has around 3,000 undergraduate students. 

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Location: Savannah, Georgia

Tuition: $39,105 (Undergraduate) and $40,050 (Graduate)

Savannah College of Art and Design is one of the most affordable art schools in the US. It was founded in 1978 and offers more art programs and specializations than other best art schools in the US. SCAD is one of the most innovative art schools in the US. 

When it comes to campus size, it’s moderate but larger than other art schools. For the student size, SCAD has about 14,000 undergraduate students. The student-to-teacher ratio is 1:20. It is on the lower end but SCAD has the highest employment rate compared to other art schools in the country.

Other important notes

Selecting the best art school in US, it’s important to consider your interests, career goals, and preferences. If your resources are not enough for your target art school, don’t lose hope. There are various organizations that offer financial aid. Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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