15 Best Art Schools in the U.S. for 2025

By Christopher Smith Jun 28, 2025

If you’re the person who is always doodling in the margins, taking photos of everything, or spending hours lost in a creative project, you know that art is more than just a hobby. It’s a passion. And turning that passion into a skill—and maybe even a career—is an exciting dream.

But where do you go to grow as an artist? With so many amazing art schools in the United States, choosing the right one can feel like a huge challenge. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

This guide will walk you through 15 of the best art schools in the U.S. for 2025. We'll look at what makes each school special and give you simple, practical tips for your application. The goal is to help you find the perfect place to build your future.

How to Choose the Right Art School for You

Before we jump into the list, remember this: the “best” art school is the one that’s the best fit for you. A famous name is great, but it’s more important to find a place where you will be happy and inspired.

Here are a few things to think about:

Big University vs. Art College: Do you want to be at a school where everyone is an artist, like a dedicated art college? Or do you prefer a big university that has a great art program but also has sports teams, science labs, and students studying many other things?
What Do You Want to Create? Make sure the school is strong in your area of interest. Whether it’s painting, graphic design, animation, fashion, or photography, look for a school with great teachers and facilities for that specific subject.
City Life or Campus Town? Do you find inspiration in the energy of a big city like New York or Los Angeles? Or do you prefer a quieter, more focused campus town?
The Vibe: Try to get a feel for the school’s culture. Is it super competitive or more collaborative? The right environment can make all the difference.

15 of the Best Art Schools in the U.S. for 2025

This list includes schools that are consistently named as the best in the country. They are a mix of dedicated art institutes and top-tier universities with amazing art departments. They are not in a strict "1 to 15" order, as each one is a leader in its own way.

1. Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Location: Providence, Rhode Island
What It's Famous For: Often called the #1 art and design school in the country, RISD is known for its intense, hands-on programs and a required “Foundation Year” where all students build core skills in drawing, design, and more.
Cool Programs: Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, Glass.

2. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)

Location: Chicago, Illinois
What It's Famous For: SAIC is known for giving students incredible freedom. It doesn’t have traditional "majors," allowing you to take classes across many different departments to build your own unique path.
Cool Programs: Fine Arts, Art Therapy, Visual Communication, Fashion Design.

3. Yale University

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
What It's Famous For: Yale is an Ivy League university with one of the most respected—and competitive—art programs in the world, especially for its Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. Its undergraduate program is also top-tier.
Cool Programs: Painting/Printmaking, Sculpture, Photography.

4. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

Location: Valencia, California
What It's Famous For: Founded by Walt Disney, CalArts is a powerhouse for animation and film. If you dream of working for Pixar, Disney Animation, or DreamWorks, this is a top place to be.
Cool Programs: Character Animation, Experimental Animation, Film/Video.

5. Parsons School of Design at The New School

Location: New York, New York
What It's Famous For: Located in the heart of NYC, Parsons is a global leader in fashion design and graphic design. It's famous for its connections to the industry and for teaching students about social responsibility in art.
Cool Programs: Fashion Design, Communication Design, Strategic Design and Management.

6. Pratt Institute

Location: Brooklyn, New York
What It's Famous For: Pratt has a beautiful campus and a fantastic reputation across many fields, from architecture to digital arts. It is known for its excellent blend of practical skills and creative thinking.
Cool Programs: Architecture, Interior Design, Communications Design.

7. Carnegie Mellon University

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
What It's Famous For: This school is perfect for artists who also love technology. Carnegie Mellon is a leader in mixing art with science, engineering, and robotics to create things no one has ever seen before.
Cool Programs: Electronic and Time-Based Arts, Integrative Design, Arts & Entertainment.

8. ArtCenter College of Design

Location: Pasadena, California
What It's Famous For: ArtCenter is a top choice for students who want to design the products and entertainment of the future. It has world-famous programs in transportation design (cars) and entertainment design (for movies and video games).
Cool Programs: Transportation Design, Entertainment Design, Graphic Design.

9. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Location: Los Angeles, California
What It's Famous For: As a top public university in the entertainment capital of the world, UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture is fantastic. It offers incredible resources and connections for aspiring artists.
Cool Programs: Design Media Arts, Fine Arts, Architectural Studies.

10. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Location: Savannah, Georgia (with campuses in Atlanta, GA and Lacoste, France)
What It's Famous For: SCAD is known for its focus on career preparation. It offers a huge number of programs and works hard to connect students with internships and jobs at top companies.
Cool Programs: Animation, Fashion, Graphic Design, Sequential Art (comics).

11. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Location: New York, New York
What It's Famous For: The Cooper Union is a legendary and highly selective school. Its biggest claim to fame is its tradition of offering a full-tuition scholarship to every single student who gets in.
Cool Programs: Fine Arts, Architecture, Engineering.

12. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

Location: Baltimore, Maryland
What It's Famous For: MICA is one of the oldest and most respected art colleges in the country. It has a strong community feel and excellent programs in both fine arts and design.
Cool Programs: Illustration, Graphic Design, Painting, Drawing.

13. School of Visual Arts (SVA)

Location: New York, New York
What It's Famous For: SVA is another NYC giant, with a huge network of successful alumni working in every creative industry. It is especially well-known for illustration, cartooning, and animation.
Cool Programs: Illustration, Animation, Fine Arts, Photography and Video.

14. Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts)

Location: Richmond, Virginia
What It's Famous For: VCUarts is often ranked as the #1 public university art school in the country. It is especially famous for its top-ranked Sculpture program and its programs in Graphic Design and Kinetic Imaging.
Cool Programs: Sculpture, Graphic Design, Kinetic Imaging (video, sound, and animation).

15. Otis College of Art and Design

Location: Los Angeles, California
What It's Famous For: Located in the creative hub of LA, Otis is great at preparing students for real-world jobs. It has strong ties to the toy design, fashion, and entertainment industries.
Cool Programs: Toy Design, Fashion Design, Digital Media.

The Secret to a Great Art School Application

Getting into a top art school is different from other college applications. While grades are important, your success really comes down to one thing.

Your Portfolio is Everything!

A portfolio is a collection of 10-20 of your best pieces of artwork. It’s the most important part of your application.

Show Your Skills: Include drawings and paintings made from looking at real life (called observational work). This shows you have strong technical skills.
Show Your Creativity: Include pieces that come purely from your imagination. This shows you have unique ideas.
Show Your Range: Try to include work in different materials (like pencil, paint, digital, or even sculpture) to show you are willing to experiment.

Don't Forget the Essay

Your artist statement or college essay is your chance to talk about your art. Why do you create what you create? What do you want to say with your work? For tips, check out this guide on how to write a perfect college admission essay.

Find Your Creative Home

Choosing an art school is a deeply personal journey. The schools on this list are incredible, but there are many other wonderful programs out there. The goal is to find the community that will challenge you, support you, and give you the tools to bring your unique vision to life.

Start working on your portfolio today, research the schools that excite you most, and get ready for the next chapter of your amazing creative journey.