Many artistic careers do not require a degree, but investing in one will provide you with countless benefits throughout your journey as an artist. The best art schools in the US can give you many advantages, including opportunities for networking and exposure, a sense of community, fundamental knowledge in art, and access to the tools …
Many artistic careers do not require a degree, but investing in one will provide you with countless benefits throughout your journey as an artist. The best art schools in the US can give you many advantages, including opportunities for networking and exposure, a sense of community, fundamental knowledge in art, and access to the tools needed to enhance your skills and gain valuable tool-specific work experience. In fact, some of the most influential artists in the US strengthened their creative development by attending art school! In this post, we discuss how to find the right art school for you, the top 10 best art schools in the US, and share some famous American artists and what schools they went to. Let’s dive in!
Art school is a substantial investment in your creative journey, and an expensive one at that, so taking the time to research the perfect schools will be more than worth it. When making this decision, figure out your specific goals, and weigh the pros and cons of art schools you’re interested in regarding those goals. Factors to consider include: specific program offerings, professors, resources, skill development opportunities, job opportunities, networking, location, and student diversity. Some of these qualities will be more important than others based on your individual aspirations.
Below is an assorted list of 10 of the best art schools in the US that equipped with resources that are sure to enhance your creative career. Although you cannot go wrong with any of these choices, be advised that what is best for you will differ from what is best for others. Be firm in your standards and opinions when viewing this list and in any further research regarding your school of choice.
These are the top 10 best art schools in the US according to our research and corroborating from multiple other rankings. Take a look!
Website: https://www.risd.edu/
RISD, located in Providence, Rhode Island, is without a doubt one of the top art schools in the US. Offering a great variety of 16 art-based majors to choose from, RISD is likely to provide what you’re looking for. In addition to your choice of art major, you will receive a liberal arts education, and the option to add a concentration at another university. Their programs are known for the diversity within their education options, outstanding faculty and facilities, and much more. However, with greatness comes competition, giving them a 17% acceptance rate. Other notable factors include their high graduation and retention rates, and prime location filled with notable museums, restaurants, and nightlife.
Website: https://www.saic.edu/
SAIC, located in Chicago, Illinois, is another well-known art school with a high reputation. Their programs provide quite the range of opportunities, doubling RISD’s programs with 32 art-based majors to choose from. SAIC is a private art school that works with the Art Institute of Chicago museum. Their collaboration is a major perk for the school, as the museum hosts presentations and lectures by famous artists, providing another layer of knowledge you may not receive at other schools. The school itself has three major art galleries for student and faculty shows, and is within close proximity to Chicago’s inspiring art scene.
Website: https://www.nyu.edu/
NYU, located in New York City, with their main campus located in Manhattan, offers a plethora of unique opportunities aligned with those looking to major in the arts. They offer a wide range of art-based programs, with distinguished professors teaching the courses. As an international school, NYU’s diversity cannot be beat, between students and opportunities for travel. With campuses located around the world, students have the opportunity to study abroad in other areas highly attractive to artists, including Paris, Berlin, and Shanghai. Along with competition, greatness also typically comes at a high cost. NYU’s tuition is pricey, as is the cost of living in a prime location in New York City. If you have the means, NYU is likely to be a wonderful fit for any aspiring artist.
Website: https://www.pratt.edu/
Pratt Institute is another prominent art school located in New York City, with their main campus located in Brooklyn. Pratt Institute is a great alternative to NYU if you’d rather attend a smaller school that still provides the abundance of benefits that living in New York City has to offer. Pratt Institute is also similar in the diversity within their students. Unfortunately, Pratt Institute is also similar to NYU in price, along with the high cost of living within their location. Pratt Institute’s School of Art provides 8 options for art-based majors, known for emphasizing technical skills and conceptual development. If one of their 8 options sparks your interest, Pratt Institute may be the right school for you.
Website: https://cooper.edu/welcome
The Cooper Union, located in the East Village in New York City, may be a better choice than the more well-known options within New York City. This school comes with a huge advantage – the price. Tuition at the Cooper Union is significantly lower than the Pratt Institute and NYU, with every student receiving a generous grant aid package. Diversity is high, they have great art-based programs to choose from, and high retention and graduation rates. However, it should be noted that this school is even smaller and more selective than the Pratt Institute. If you can impress them enough to be accepted, this school may be your best option within the city, and is definitely the best bang for your buck.
Website: https://roski.usc.edu/
USC Roski is located in Los Angeles, California. The location alone makes this school in high demand for artists, due to the benefits of being close to Los Angeles’ thriving art scene. Los Angeles is home to a huge variety of notable art museums, with the school itself having its own art museums as well. There are limited programs to choose from, as USC is not primarily an art school. At USC Roski your choices are to obtain a BA or BFA in art, or a BFA in design. However, their broad courses are designed with the intention to encourage you to explore, combine, mix, match and move freely among media.
Website: https://calarts.edu/
CalArts is a private art university located in Santa Clarita California. The school is well known for its experimental art practices within the wide variety of art-based programs available to choose from. Their renowned art faculty is significantly beneficial to students attending, as they are provided with top tier mentorship and guidance. The school is fairly selective, with a 25% acceptance rate, but if you can get in, the opportunities for success are high. Although the school isn’t in the heart of Los Angeles like USC Roski, it’s close enough for students to reap the benefits if they can arrange a 30 mile drive.
Website: https://www.art.yale.edu/
Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University is well known for its art programs, with a variety of notable faculty members and alumni. Their Masters of Fine Arts program and undergraduate programs are consistently ranked very highly within the art world. Within their undergraduate programs, 5 options are offered, including painting, sculpture, graphic design, printmaking, and photography. Due to Yale’s prestigious reputation, their acceptance rate is extremely low, and their tuition is fairly high. If Yale is accessible for you, choosing one of their art programs is sure to jumpstart your success within the arts.
Website: https://www.scad.edu/
SCAD, located in Savannah, Georgia, is an excellent choice for any artist, especially those ready to dive into everything there is to know about their major of choice. SCAD offers a wide array of majors and specializations, with over 100 majors and 75 minors and certificate programs to choose from. Savannah Georgia is home to some wonderful art museums, including the school’s museum (SCAD Museum of Art). SCAD emphasizes the importance of professional development for their students and is known for supporting students in finding employment post graduation.
Website: https://www.mica.edu/
MICA, the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art and design in the nation, is well known for its rich history. MICA is located in Baltimore, MD, another great location for aspiring artists. With an abundance of art museums and events, Baltimore offers many opportunities, with a lower cost of living compared to other artist hubs. MICA is a fairly small college, but get involved within their active art community and you will find there are endless connections to be made and adventures to be had.
There are countless famous artists who benefitted from attending art school – here are 10 of them that attended US art school, including alumni from many of the best art schools in the US listed above!
Jackson Pollock: Jackson Pollock, known for his discovery of action painting, attended the Art Students League of New York. Here, he was exposed to a wide array of artistic techniques, which eventually led to his discovery. The technique involved dripping paint instead of using traditional brush strokes, creating a unique visual effect. His one of a kind artistic expression made him one of the most influential artists of the 20th-century.
Norman Rockwell: Norman Rockwell, an American art and culture figure, was also an attendee of the Art Students League of New York. His pieces showcased the experiences of everyday people within certain periods of time, influencing political and social discourse within the US. His artwork made a significant contribution to many art movements, including regionalism and social realism.
Georgia O’Keeffe: Georgia O’Keeffe studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League of New York, which exposed and aided in her exploration of modernism. She is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, a time where artists were inspired to focus on individual expression. Her paintings were inspired by nature and combined abstraction and realism.
Gertrude Abercrombie: Gertrude Abercrombie, another famous artist who studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, is an established artist who gained more popularity within recent generations. She was known for painting eerie landscapes, often including cats, moons, and playing cards featuring queens, self-portraits and towers. Abercrombie credits her time at SAIC for jumpstarting her artistic career.
Andy Warhol: Andy Warhol attended Carnegie Mellon University, and graduated with a degree in pictorial design. During his time in art school, he experimented with many mediums, eventually leading to his most notable style – silk screen printing. His work was inspired by popular culture, portraying the rise of mass production and advertising in the US.
Cindy Sherman: Cindy Sherman studied painting and photography at the University of Buffalo. During her time in Buffalo, she was first influenced by photo-based conceptual works of artists including Hannah Wilke, Eleanor Antin, and Adrian Piper. This inspiration, combined with the techniques she learned, led to her photographic self-portraits, which she is most often recognized for.
Mark Rothko: Mark Rothko, known for his abstract and expressionist art, attended Yale University’s School of the Fine Arts. Originally, he pursued figurative painting, but through his studies was drawn toward abstraction. His work was highly influential to the color field movement and can be seen within the works of many contemporary artists.
Edward Hopper: Edward Hopper studied at the New York Institute of Art and Design. He was inspired by the ashcan school realism and impressionism movements, but eventually became known for his own unique style. Today, he is most renowned for his approach to capturing everyday American life and landscapes.
Mary Cassatt: Mary Cassatt attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, despite living during a time period where women were discouraged to pursue careers as artists. Thankfully, she ignored societal pressures and ended up becoming one of the most prominent female painters in the US. Her work dove into the lives of women, often emphasizing the intimate bonds between mothers and children.
Roy Lichtenstein: Roy Lichtenstein attended the School of Fine Arts at Ohio State. During his time as an artist, he explored artistic movements such as pop art and abstract expressionism. He became a leading figure in the pop art movement, creating the comic-book inspired paintings that solidified his legacy.
You don’t have to go to art school to become an artist, but the potential benefits of the best art schools in the US are undenied. Attending art school can lead to irreplaceable connections, inspiration, and freedom of exploration, as demonstrated by many of the famous artists in the US whose careers were jump started by the space they were given to explore during their time in art school.
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