Before we talk about best art colleges in the US, lets learn what is an art? Art in its diverse branches and styles has always been one of the most effective means of communication and creativity as well as the mirror of society. It is a form of work; that particular work can be as far-reaching as Painting and as burgeoning as Sculpture, varied as Digital Arts, or lively as Performance Arts.
It provides a platform where people envision changes, break restraints, and touch people’s hearts and brains. Every year thousands of learners in the United States begins this artistic process, having obtained the degrees in some of the most reputable art schools in the world. In this article I would like to provide my perspective on the 10 best art colleges in US and what they have to offer and famous alumni. Further, I will also give a fee schedule table, merit, and acceptance rates table.
Table of Contents
What is Art and Its Scope?
Art in its broad sense outlines all the kinds of human undertakings that involve creative and imaginative skills. Art can be classified into the following areas of art:
- Graphic art which embraces painting
- sculpture and photography
- dramatic arts which includes; music, acting, dancing, and singing.
Thus, the art not only depicts beauty but also contributes to the change, expression of feelings, and idea provocation. Art today interacts with technology, politics, and education, meaning that art is an encompassing element of a person’s life and community.
How Many Students Graduate from Art Colleges in the US Annually?
Every year, thousands of students are produced from different art colleges in the United States of America. The National Center for Education Statistics reports an estimated 100,000 degrees in visual-performing arts separately awarded every year in the United States. This number demonstrate the readiness of people to assign more importance and demand to the efficient art education.
Top 10 Best Art Colleges in the US
1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
It is conventional knowledge that RISD is the most excellent art and design school in the United States. This is has strong curricular offerings and has a vibrant and diverse learning environment characterized by imagination and invention. In my opinion it is one of the best liberal art college
Notable Alumni: Shepard Fairey, Kara Walker
2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
SAIC offers comprehensiveness in art education, which enables the student to foster interconnections in the aspects of art. It is one of the best art college in the list of US
Notable Alumni: Georgia O’Keeffe, Grant Wood
3. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Best art colleges list contain the name of Started by entertainment mogul Walt Disney, CalArts boasts of courses in arts-the animation, film, and performing arts. It focuses on experiments and post-disciplinary approach.
Notable Alumni: Tim Burton, John Lasseter
4. Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute has excellent programs in fine arts, architecture and design and is situated in New York city. It is one of the best art colleges in the US
Notable Alumni: Robert Redford, Betsey Johnson
5. Yale University School of Art
Yale’s School of Art is a small and highly competitive program famous for its star-studded faculty list and an intensive focus on critical discourse and making. Best art college known for its liberal culture.
Notable Alumni: Chuck Close, Eva Hesse
6. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
MICA is well recognized for its strong art courses as well as for its emphasis on liberal arts/studio arts split and it is in the list of best art colleges in the US.
Notable Alumni: Jeff Koons, Elaine Hamilton
7. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Therefore, SCAD has come up with numerous programs and campuses, which facilitates the provision of international insights to students in the arts. It is one of the best art college which provide the liberal culture and freedom to work.
Notable Alumni: Hugh Acheson
8. Parsons School of Design
Parsons is situated in The New School and has been famous for progressive approach in the teaching process and the focus on the subject’s social impact.
Notable Alumni: Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford
9. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of the Arts and Architecture
Arts are extensively developed at UCLA with students having a great opportunity to work in the best facilities and use local resources of Los Angeles. I personally love to study here, it would be on of the best places to study near me if I choose to learn art.
Notable Alumni: Paul Reubens, Chris Burden
10. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Best art colleges in the US share common factor of liberal culture so from one of them The Cooper Union is quite famous for offering full-tuition scholarships and implementing intense courses in art and architecture and engineering.
Notable Alumni: Milton Glaser, Eva Hesse
Comparison Table of Top 10 Art Colleges
| College | Tuition Fee (per year) | Merit Scholarship (%) | Acceptance Rate (%) |
| Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) | $54,890 | 20% | 20% |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | $52,200 | 25% | 57% |
| California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) | $52,850 | 30% | 25% |
| Pratt Institute | $53,566 | 25% | 51% |
| Yale University School of Art | $43,300 | 10% | 6% |
| Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) | $50,160 | 20% | 64% |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) | $38,475 | 30% | 72% |
| Parsons School of Design | $50,510 | 20% | 35% |
| UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture | $41,500 (out-of-state) | 20% | 12% |
| Cooper Union | Full-tuition scholarship | 10% | 13% |
Conclusion
It is for this reason that, the right choice of an art college depends on the type of programs offered the culture before the art students, and the vision that the individual has especially when it comes to the art. All these best rated art colleges have their own specialty and their own ways in which they contribute to the society and to the art world It could be the profound CalArts that embarks on experiments or the traditional Yale that seeks to maintain a rich artistic heritage.
According my opinion it is not only enough to find out the right college or institute but you must have passion to do and you must have potential to do something big so you can do besides you are learning in one of the best college or not.
