The Best U.S. Art Universities or Colleges

Rhode Island School of Design

• The top art and design school in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report, is the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), which has more than 2,200 students enrolled in its various creative disciplines. Founded in 1877 in Providence, RISD offers undergraduate, graduate and international degrees in various artistic mediums, including ceramics, glass, illustration, painting and sculpture. The school promotes the arts with an on-campus museum, display of exhibitions and installations, a nature lab, student organizations and hosting of 300 professionals each year. Admission requires an application, academic transcripts, drawings, portfolio, writing samples, letters of recommendation and ACT/SAT scores. Early application is advised because of limited slots for incoming students.

  Rhode Island School of Design
  2 College Street
  Providence, RI 02903
  401-454-6100
  http://www.risd.edu/

Yale School of Art

• Yale University, an Ivy League institution, houses the second-ranked art college, according to the U.S. News and World Report. Yale School of Art offers programs in graphic design, painting and printmaking, photography and sculpture. The school maintains two art galleries, a digital media lab, print shop and photo lab. For 150 years, Yale University has been dedicated to the pursuit of the visual arts--from the first university-associated museum in America to the current gallery exhibitions presented by students. The Yale School of Art and Yale University promotes an active campus life with 50 club sports, a vibrant Greek life, volunteerism, student organizations and international outreach programs. Admission is highly competitive and requires an application, biographical essay, transcripts, letters of recommendation and portfolio.

  Yale School of Art
  1156 Chapel Street
  New Haven, Connecticut 06511
  203-432-2600
  http://art.yale.edu

School of the Art Institute of Chicao

• About 2,300 undergraduate and 700 graduate students are enrolled in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), ranked third by the U.S. News and World Report. SAIC, located in downtown Chicago, houses the largest school museum in America, a film room, design studio, drawing room, wood and metal shop and visual and fashion resource centers. SAIC offers many disciplines, including art education, fashion design, performance and writing. Admission requires an application, ACT/SAT scores, transcripts, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, portfolio and a personal interview.

  School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  37 South Wabash Avenue
  Chicago, Illinois, 60603
  312 629-6100
  http://www.saic.edu