Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) ranks as the top school in fine arts for 2011, according to "US News & World Report," for the third year in a row. The school offers many arts programs and it holds the number one spot for interior design, glass design and graphic design. It comes in third for multimedia, photography, painting and sculpture.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) was ranked by "US News" as the 7th university for fine arts and photography, 5th for painting/drawing and multimedia visual communication and 6th for sculpture. It also comes in 7th in the QS World University Rankings 2010. It has excellent facilities to inspire students and help them develop their talents, including theaters, museums, galleries, concert halls and gardens. Students can do research and showcase their work at Fowler Museum and Hammer Museum.
Yale University is ranked by "US News and World Report" as the top university in painting, drawing and photography. It ranks 2nd in fine arts, graphic design and sculpture. However, its multimedia/visual communication program only ranks 15th in the United States. Yale University comes in 5th in the QS World University Rankings 2010.
If you are interested in textiles, tapestry or anything related with fiber, consider the Cranbrook Academy of Arts. "US News and World Report" ranks this institution as the best in trainings artist in fiber arts, including sculpture, garments and functional objects. The school also ranks second in ceramic arts and graphic design.
If your interest lies in sculpture then Virginia Commonwealth University is your best choice. It currently ranks first in the "US News and World Report" list of schools specializing in sculpture. It also excels in graphic arts, fiber arts and glass arts, and is among the top 10 schools for painting/drawing and multimedia/visual communication.
Another university that excels in fine arts, photography, painting and multimedia/visual communications is the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Currently ranked 3rd in the "US News and World Report" fine arts category, it has produced many renowned artists.
If your passion is designing buildings that are stunning and functional, Cornell University Architecture, Art and Planning Department can help advance your skills. Cornell University holds 16th place in the QS World University Rankings 2010. The Department of Architecture, Arts and Planning offers courses in architecture, combined media, electronic imaging, painting, photography, print making and sculpture.
Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) ranks 4th in the "US News and World Report" for fine arts. MICA offers a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts, with majors in animation, drawing, ceramics, environmental design and fiber arts. It also offers graduate degree in curatorial practice and Graphic design.
For aspiring interior designers, Pratt Institute tops the league. It is also in the top ten schools for graphic design and industrial design. It offers other art courses including animation (both 2D and 3D), fashion design and illustration. Pratt Institute offers associate, undergraduate and graduate degrees in fine arts.
Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts includes architecture, art and design. The College of Fine Arts offers a wide range of courses including Drawing/ Digital media, Architectural Drawing and Modern Architecture. The college has top ranking from the "US News and World Report" for multimedia and visual communications. Carnegie Mellon University counts among its alumni the famous artist Andy Warhol.