10 Best Art Colleges in the US to Take Admission

Greetings to all artists & EduLize Readers!

Are you searching for the best art colleges in the US for admission to level up your game of art? I know that’s really overwhelming with names and choices out there, and you may not have the criteria to justify the best.

Isn’t it? If it’s so, then don’t you worry because I’ve made a list of the best art colleges in the US. These colleges will be a perfect choice for you because they even help you build artistic abilities for your brighter career.

This article is sure to give you a head start in your admission process to an art college that works best for you.

Well then, read on!

Art colleges are educational institutions that are highly focused on providing art and design or visual and performing arts degrees.

Moreover, an art teacher is the main character in the institution who guides and gives instructions to art students. Here is the analysis of what art colleges actually feature:

• Expert Faculty: The faculty comprises experts in different forms of art to mentor and guide students.
• Studio Time: A studio is like the lab in an art college. It’s the workspace where students have all the equipment to create art.
•  An Art Community: Most of your teachers are dedicated artists, creating an on-campus art community
• Appropriate Resources and Facilities: A wide range of media and specialized equipment for all forms of art, like painting, sculpting, or even digital art.
• Funds to Support Art Education: The funds that an art college receives are for the purpose of art only.
• Art-specific Coursework: Rather than imposing a rigorous academic program, the coursework is related to art only.
• Relevant Technology: As with everything else, technology also contributes to creating art. An art college has the equipment and facilities to incorporate tech into art.

It’s time to find out the 10 best art colleges in the US for admission.

The dilemma for every art student is to find an art college where the artist inside them finds the space to grow. Well, put your worries at ease with the best art colleges in the US list.

1. Otis College of Art and Design – Best for Digital Media, Fashion Design
2. Ringling College of Art and Design – Best for Motion Graphics
3. Savannah College of Art and Design – Best for All Forms of Art
4. Maryland Institute College of Art – Best for Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Art
5. Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design – Best for Animation, Game Art
6. Laguna College of Art and Design – Best for Animation, Illustration
7. Columbus College of Art and Design – Best for Digital Media, Fashion Design
8. Moore College of Art and Design – Best for Inclusive Women Environment
9. Emory College of Arts and Sciences – Best for Liberal Arts
10. UVA College of Arts and Sciences – Best for Interdisciplinary Learning

• Acceptance Rate: 83%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,268
• International Students Acceptance: 26%

The Otis College of Arts and Design has a welcoming art learning environment for students from diverse cultures. Based in Los Angeles, you’ll love the vibe of the city where you’re meeting throughout Otis.

Campus life at Otis College of Art and Design is a hub of activity with student-led clubs and organizations. No matter what you’re interested in, you’ll find yourself a club. With 8 labs and workshops on campus, you receive excellent hands-on experiences at Otis!

• Acceptance Rate: 67%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,722
• International Students Acceptance: 21%

Every art student desires a bustling campus life, a creative community, and, well, great opportunities. Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida, is surrounded by art galleries, historic sites, and trails.

The campus houses specialized labs and studios, sprawling over the campus. You’ll get ample time and space to learn and create in whichever form of art you pursue. You’re truly in for an experience of a lifetime with the AI facility and the “first commercial and academic film and post-production facility.”

• Acceptance Rate: 84%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 14,699
• International Students Acceptance: 15%

You get to master your skill in the most beautiful town in Georgia, the Savannah College of Art and Design is a piece of art in itself. The tech-savvy artist, the fashion design aspirant, and the printmaking or ceramics art student will get dedicated labs. 

Lodging is equally aesthetic and well-equipped, with a student-friendly layout of the campus. The SCAD ALUMNI have some amazing success stories. You’re likely to find your niche at the Savannah College of Art and Design, with around 30 undergrad programs that they offer.

• Acceptance Rate: 80%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,403
• International Students Acceptance: 15%

Maryland Institute College of Art is considered a dream destination for art students with the best art museums in Baltimore, a short ride away. Moreover, it’s barely a 2-hour drive from Washington for art students to explore the art galleries and museums in the Capital.

The events at the Maryland Institute College of Art dot the entire calendar with exhibitions and events where you’ll get to express your creativity. It also has a range of equipment in its studios to assist student artists in their learning. 

• Acceptance Rate: 100%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,050
• International Students Acceptance: 12%

Art students at RMCAD have regular access to art supplies, tech support, digital equipment, and a library. You won’t worry over replenishing your paints or food supplies, for that matter, to express your creativity.

Denver also boasts some exquisite galleries, an amphitheatre, and a public art program to inspire the creative art minds. Explore the eligibility criteria of the 12 studios in RMCAD, the SPIVAK STUDIOS, where art students can connect and display their work.

• Acceptance Rate: 91%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 776
• International Students Acceptance: 4%

Learning art at college in Laguna Beach is a fantastic idea anyway. The location is ideal for artists to stroll around, imagine, and create inspiring art ideas. Most major brands are based in Laguna, as is Cartoon Network!

Art students find exciting internship opportunities at LCAD. This art college has sufficient studio space for art students to create their portfolios. Against the backdrop of the Laguna Canyon, you get to create art in bright and purpose-built expanses.

• Acceptance Rate: 91%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 956
• International Students Acceptance: 2%

Scroll to the bottom of the homepage at https://www.ccad.edu/ to find some of their most brilliant students’ works. This college is a home to visual and creative art students where they can earn a minor in art therapy or creative writing, among a few other options.

Studios for fashion design, film and video, art, and design are a few of the separate spaces for each of the art programs they’re offering. CCAD is grounds for great creativity with a cheerful and safe campus life.

• Acceptance Rate: 53%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 355
• International Students Acceptance: 6%

MCAD is home to art in Philly! They have studios for digital art, printwork, and a complete VAULT, as they call it, for their digital art spaces. Their library and the well-equipped fine art classrooms cater to all art-related needs of the students.

For their residence, the Moore College of Art and Design webpage says, “Eat. Sleep. Create. Repeat,” as that is the purpose of their on-campus residence. Art students get to live as a community of learners while they connect and spend time together.

• Acceptance Rate: 11%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,359
• International Students Acceptance: 16%

The Emory College of Arts and Sciences was ranked 5th by the Princeton Review for providing the best quality of life in 2022. It was also ranked 4th in the US for its socio-economic diversity by US News & World Report, 2021.

ECAS believes in creating thinking, reflective individuals with its arts and science programs. Emory is based in Atlanta, gives you great opportunities to explore galleries, museums, and performance venues. Although Emory is known for its business and science programs, their art programs are equally successful. 

• Acceptance Rate: 17%
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,618
• International Students Acceptance: 5%

Lastly, I’ve added UVA College of Arts and Sciences, which aims to create artists who can best apply visual art as a language. UVA ranks amongst the top art colleges with its research programs and affiliations.

Their Studio Art program is great for art students looking to study drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture, and new media. 2 hours from Washington, in Charlottesville, Virginia, UVA offers a comprehensive art program for art students.

 With your Studio Art degree from UVA, you can build excellent careers in:

• Cinematography
• New Media
• Painting
• Photography
• Printmaking
• Sculpture

Art is integral to human existence. A formal education in art brings out the best in an artist and also opens doors to brilliant career pathways. From an art instructor to illustrator and art therapist, there are numerous avenues for students of art.

With access to the best art college, there is no reason why you shouldn’t pursue a degree in art. Considering some factors like the best ROI, I’d personally recommend SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design). The great student loan options and well-grounded art programs, you get a good ROI with SCAD. 

I hope you’re able to settle on the right art college for yourself and create waves and ripples as an artist!