Top Colleges for the Arts

Are you interested in an art major? If so, you know you need a college with a great art program. We’ve rounded up the best colleges for the arts - both schools and colleges with fantastic art programs.

If you know for sure art is your main focus, an art school might be right for you. Most art schools offer a BFA and some also have a BA program. At an art school, you’ll spend more of your time in art classes. Art schools also offer more specialized arts programs that you might not find at a standard school. Here are some of the top art schools for 2022:

• Offers a BFA or BA
• Large program with a wide range of specialties and lots of experienced faculty.

Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)

• Offers a BFA in 17 fine art majors
• Features a great faculty mentorship program

Application tip: Along with your portfolio, you’ll complete The Assignment, a multi-part project that showcases your style.

California College of the Fine Arts (San Francisco, CA)

• Offers a BFA in 15 fine arts majors and minors - or you can create your own.
• Very small staff to student ratios.

Pratt University (Brooklyn, NY)

• Offers a BFA in several areas. 
• Also has an Associate’s program available for some art specialties.

Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD)

• Offers a BFA in 20 fine arts majors.
• Very small staff to student ratios.

Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah, GA)

• Offers a BFA or BA in a large number of areas of study.

Application tip: Enroll in SCAD’s summer program for high school students to hone your skills before applying.

Alma Mater statue near the Columbia University library.

Parsons School of Design (The New School, New York, NY)

• Offers a BFA in a variety of arts majors.
• Has many flexible degree options, including online courses.

Some students choose to pursue an art major at a non-art school. You might want to double major, or you might just want a different school culture than an art school offers.

Talk to your high school counselor to help decide which option is best for you. These more traditional schools have great art programs:

Yale University (New Haven, CT)

• Offers a BA in the arts as well as an MFA.
• Has state of the art facilities for art students.

Application tip: You’ll need to add a portfolio to your standard application.

University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

• Offers a BA in Fine Arts or Design through the Weitzman School of Design.

Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA)

• Offers a BFA in many art majors as well as an MFA in some.
• Well-known for their great graphic design program.

Columbia University (New York, NY)

• Offers a BFA in visual arts with a choice of several majors

At Empowerly, we know choosing the right program for you can seem daunting. But our college counseling services are here to help you make the best decision for you. Get started today!