Found in New Haven, Conn., the Yale School of Art is "devoted not only to the refinement of the visual skills, but to the cultivation of the mind," according to its mission statement. Yale School of Art admits only around 119 students a year to have a six to one student teacher ratio. Specializing in photography, painting, sculpture and graphic design, Yale's famous alumni include Richard Serra, Chuck Close and Matthew Barney. The Yale School of Art is an Ivy League and one of the world's most prestigious art institutions.
The Cooper Union's mission is to assist young artists in becoming versatile, resourceful creators able to positively affect the problems of the future. Founded in 1859 by Peter Cooper, The Cooper Union is a privately funded college. It is located in the East Village in New York. The Cooper Union School of Art helps general visual and design artists master their craft. Each student admitted to the Cooper Union receives a full scholarship to earn their Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Thomas Edison, Max Fleischer and Augusta Savage are three of the Cooper Union's many notable alumni.
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is one of the oldest art schools in the world. The PAFA trains students in the disciplines of sculpture, painting and work on paper. Through cutting edge facilities, small class sizes and an accomplished and diverse faculty, the PAFA works to help students establish and maintain successful careers in the fine arts. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts was founded in 1805 by William Rush and Charles Wilson Peal.
The Carnegie Mellon School of Art encourages art through experimentation, crossing borders and hybrid mentalities. Blending traditional teaching with cutting edge technology and the visionary sense, the Carnegie Mellon School of Art educates the whole person. It is ranked one of the top seven schools in the United States. The Carnegie Mellon School of Art is both innovative and progressive. It offers study abroad programs to 25 different countries around the world, internship opportunities and interactive learning with older students. Andy Warhol, Mel Bochner and Nancy Hagin are alumni.