California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) was founded in 1961 by Walt and Roy Disney and was the United States' first school to offer an undergraduate or graduate degree in visual and performing arts. Cal Arts has six main areas of study: art, critical studies, film/video, dance, music and theater.
Admission into Cal Arts is not as easy as simply filling out an application. Depending on your area of focus, you must also submit an audition or a portfolio or maybe even both. Like most accredited colleges, Cal Arts offers payment plans, financial aid and various scholarships. For the 2011-2012 school year, full time enrollment at Cal Arts cost $36,166.
The University of the Arts (UARTS) was founded in 1881. As of 2011 it offers 26 undergraduate degrees and 12 graduate degrees in four different areas of study including Design, Visual Arts, Performance and Film. There are over 2,300 full-time students and 116 faculty members. Tuition at UARTS is $31,000 a year. Applicants at UARTS have to prepare either a portfolio or an audition. The school offers financial aid and scholarships for all of its programs.
The Art Institute of Atlanta (AIA) offers degrees in four different focuses of study: culinary, design, fashion and media arts. Founded in 1949, AIA offers 19 different degrees. As of 2010, AIA has 3,335 full-time students. Applicants to AIA must go through an interview process before being admitted. Depending on your area of emphasis, receiving your bachelor's from AIA could cost over $93,000. AIA does offer financial aid. It will also offer assistance to students who must seek loans or other outside help paying for school.
The School of the Artis (SAIC) in its earliest form was founded in 1866 as a school for design. As of 2009, there are 3,098 students at SAIC. Students at SAIC must choose between two different areas of focus: exhibition studies and sculptural practices. While those two focuses may not sound like much, they actually encompass a wide range of majors that include art education, fashion design, performance and many others. Applicants at SAIC must present a portfolio and go through an in- person interview. Tuition for an undergraduate degree is $35,550. SAIC offers financial aid and scholarships to students that meet certain criteria and distinguish themselves as being exceptional.