Pursuing a career in the arts often requires enrolling in an undergraduate arts program at a stand-alone arts facility or an integrated arts program within a larger university. Consulting the various published lists of top schools is a great way for students interested in the arts to find schools where they can further their academic career.
These lists consider feedback from faculty and alumni, tuition and fees, admission rates, and much more.
Here are some highly rated arts schools that students might consider when considering their academic future.
George Brown College: This Toronto-based college is divided into three schools, including the School of Design, School of Fashion Studies, and School of Performing Arts. All three offer undergraduate and graduate programs.
Yale University: This Connecticut school is well known for many of its excellent programs. The Ivy League school has also topped nearly every list of top MFA programs in the nation.
Alberta University of the Arts: Formerly known as the Alberta College of Art + Design, this Calgary university focuses on studio experiences for design, new media and fine art students. BFAs are offered in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and print media, among others.
California College of the Arts: Located in San Francisco, this school offers 15 majors and minors in fine arts. The student-faculty ratio is also low at 8:1, which means that students will receive plenty of individual attention from professors.
Vancouver Institute of Media Arts: Aspiring animators as well as those interested in creating video games or special effects for film and television can enroll in this school in British Columbia. Students can also develop a professional demo reel and portfolio to help them find their first job.
Rhode Island School of Design: The mission of this school is to educate students in the appreciation of works of art and design through studio-based learning and in-depth study of the liberal arts. RISD is also home to the RISD Museum.
Pratt Institute: Students can choose from degrees in art and design education as well as digital arts, photography, fine art, and film at this Brooklyn school. Pratt offers several associate degrees for those not ready to commit to a bachelor’s degree program.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago: U.S. News and World Report states that SAIC is ranked second among fine arts graduate programs in the United States. It ranks 7th among art and design schools in the world, according to the QS World University Rankings. The school offers a comprehensive liberal arts education with an emphasis on arts and design.
Students across North America have many reputable arts schools to consider when trying to decide where to pursue their college career.