Rhode Island School of Design ranked No. 1 in the U.S. News & World Report 2008 rankings for fine arts degrees. The school is unique for providing students with faculty who try to make a difference. For instance, industrial design professor Robert O'Neal developed Project Ujima started by his student Anthony Green to help refugee housing efforts.
Rhode Island School of Design
2 College Street
Providence, RI 02903
401-454-6100
risd.edu
State University of New York at New Paltz ranked No. 1 from the StudentsReview article "Top Creative Schools." Students can focus on sculpture, printmaking, drawing, painting, metal and ceramic while they gain inspiration from contemporary art hub New York City.
State University of New York at New Paltz
1 Hawk Drive
New Paltz, NY 12561
845-257-SUNY (7869)
newpaltz.edu
The Yale University art department was rated No. 2 by U.S. News & World Report in the top fine arts colleges of 2008. Its website states that admissions is competitive and highly selective. Only significantly capable students are admitted, and they must show their dedication.
Yale University
Admissions Office
PO Box 208234
New Haven, CT 06520-8234
203-432-2331
yale.edu
The Brown University Department of Visual Art introduces students to traditional fine arts, digital media and video. They also have the opportunity to take classes at the nearby Rhode Island School of Design.
Brown University
45 Prospect Street
Providence, RI 02912
401-863-1000
brown.edu/
School of the Art Institute of Chicago rated No. 3 in the U.S. News & World Report 2008 ratings of fine arts colleges. Its website states that it is one of the oldest accredited independent colleges of art and design in the nation.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
37 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, 60603
312 629-6100
http://www.saic.edu
University of California at Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts rated No. 3 in StudentsReview article "Top Creative Schools." Its art outreach programs bring arts to children from kindergarten to twelfth grade.
University of California at Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697
949-824-5011
uci.edu/
Cranbrook Academy of Art rated No. 4 by the U.S. News & World Report rankings that focused on arts programs in 2008. It offers programs in 3D design, architecture, ceramics, fiber, metalsmithing, painting, photography, print media, and sculpture.
Cranbrook Academy of Art
39221 Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304
248-645-3300
cranbrookart.edu
University of Chicago has a visual arts program that was rated No. 4 by StudentsReview article "Top Creative Schools." It helps students learn to communicate, analyze and express ideas with artistic mediums.
University of Chicago
5801 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637-1546
773-702-1234
uchicago.edu
Maryland Institute College of Art tied for 4th place in the U.S. News & World Report article on the top fine arts colleges of 2008. It offers numerous majors in fine arts, photography, digital media and film.
Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 West Mount Royal Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217-4191
(410) 669-9200
mica.edu
Virginia Commonwealth University was in a 3-way tie for the No. 4 ranking from the U.S. News & World Report article on the top fine arts colleges in 2008. According to its website, the sculpture program was rated No. 1 in the country.
Virginia Commonwealth University
938 West Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23284
804-828-4357
vcu.edu