Best Colleges for Arts
This ranking showcases top universities for visual and performing arts majors, spanning fine arts, music, theater, film, and design. Compare schools on studio facilities, performance opportunities, faculty mentorship, and exhibition networks to find the creative environment where you can develop your artistic voice and build a sustainable career in the arts.
180 schools ranked in this list.
| Rank | School |
|---|---|
| #1 | Purchase College--SUNYPurchase, NY, 10577 |
| #2 | ArtCenter College of DesignPasadena, CA, 91103 |
| #3 | Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtNew York, NY, 10003 |
| #4 | University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, 90089 |
| #5 | Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NY, 12601 |
| #6 | San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA, 95192 |
| #7 | St. Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN, 55057 |
| #8 | Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN, 46208 |
| #9 | New York UniversityNew York, NY, 10012 |
| #10 | Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT, 06459 |
| #11 | Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA, 19081 |
| #12 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson, TN, 38340 |
| #13 | High Point UniversityHigh Point, NC, 27268 |
| #14 | Taylor UniversityUpland, IN, 46989 |
| #15 | Bennington CollegeBennington, VT, 05201 |
| #16 | Fairleigh Dickinson University--Florham Campus |
| #17 | Hamilton CollegeClinton, NY, 13323 |
| #18 | Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA, 01002 |
| #19 | Keene State CollegeKeene, NH, 03435 |
| #20 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington, IL, 61702 |
| #21 | Rollins CollegeWinter Park, FL, 32789 |
| #22 | Berklee College of MusicBoston, MA, 02215 |
| #23 | Otis College of Art and DesignLos Angeles, CA, 90045 |
| #24 | Saint Edward's UniversityAustin, TX, 78704 |
| #25 | Flagler CollegeAugustine, FL, 32084 |
| #26 | St. Mary's College of MarylandMarys City, MD, 20686 |
| #27 | SUNY OneontaOneonta, NY, 13825 |
| #28 | Stetson UniversityDeLand, FL, 32723 |
| #29 | Baptist University of FloridaGraceville, FL, 32440 |
| #30 | Kenyon CollegeGambier, OH, 43022 |
| #31 | John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs, AR, 72761 |
| #32 | Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC, 29733 |
| #33 | SUNY--New PaltzNew Paltz, NY, 12561 |
| #34 | Champlain CollegeBURLINGTON, VT, 05401 |
| #35 | Lycoming CollegeWilliamsport, PA, 17701 |
| #36 | Baldwin Wallace UniversityBerea, OH, 44017 |
| #37 | Ithaca CollegeIthaca, NY, 14850 |
| #38 | Converse UniversitySpartanburg, SC, 29302 |
| #39 | Lafayette CollegeEaston, PA, 18042 |
| #40 | Morehouse CollegeAtlanta, GA, 30314 |
| #41 | Earlham CollegeRichmond, IN, 47374 |
| #42 | Salem CollegeSalem, NC, 27101 |
| #43 | Oberlin CollegeOberlin, OH, 44074 |
| #44 | Otterbein UniversityWesterville, OH, 43081 |
| #45 | Alfred UniversityAlfred, NY, 14802 |
| #46 | Millikin UniversityDecatur, IL, 62522 |
| #47 | Whittier CollegeWhittier, CA, 90608 |
| #48 | University of EvansvilleEvansville, IN, 47722 |
| #49 | Colby-Sawyer CollegeNew London, NH, 03257 |
| #50 | Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs, NY, 12866 |
| #51 | La Sierra UniversityRiverside, CA, 92515 |
| #52 | Blackburn CollegeCarlinville, IL, 62626 |
| #53 | Augsburg UniversityMinneapolis, MN, 55454 |
| #54 | Berea CollegeBerea, KY, 40404 |
| #55 | Queens University of CharlotteCharlotte, NC, 28274 |
| #56 | Spring Hill CollegeMobile, AL, 36608 |
| #57 | Mount Saint Mary's UniversityLos Angeles, CA, 90049 |
| #58 | McMurry UniversityAbilene, TX, 79697 |
| #59 | Rider UniversityLawrenceville, NJ, 08648 |
| #60 | Cottey CollegeNevada, MO, 64772 |
| #61 | Culver-Stockton CollegeCanton, MO, 63435 |
| #62 | Westminster UniversitySalt Lake City, UT, 84105 |
| #63 | Montserrat College of ArtBeverly, MA, 01915 |
| #64 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBoston, MA, 02115 |
| #65 | Principia CollegeElsah, IL, 62028 |
| #66 | Drury UniversitySpringfield, MO, 65802 |
| #67 | Capital UniversityColumbus, OH, 43209 |
| #68 | Lawrence UniversityAppleton, WI, 54911 |
| #69 | Mercyhurst UniversityErie, PA, 16546 |
| #70 | Anderson University (SC)Anderson, SC, 29621 |
| #71 | Manhattanville UniversityPurchase, NY, 10577 |
| #72 | Muhlenberg CollegeAllentown, PA, 18104 |
| #73 | SUNY at FredoniaFredonia, NY, 14063 |
| #74 | William Peace UniversityRaleigh, NC, 27604 |
| #75 | Huntington UniversityHuntington, IN, 46750 |
| #76 | Universidad del Sagrado CorazonSan Juan, PR, 00914 |
| #77 | Nazareth UniversityRochester, NY, 14618 |
| #78 | Stephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX, 75965 |
| #79 | University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL, 35632 |
| #80 | Dean CollegeFranklin, MA, 02038 |
| #81 | Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboro, KY, 42301 |
| #82 | CUNY--Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY, 11210 |
| #83 | Pratt InstituteBrooklyn, NY, 11205 |
| #84 | Albertus Magnus CollegeNew Haven, CT, 06511 |
| #85 | University of Wisconsin--Stevens PointStevens Point, WI, 54481 |
| #86 | The New SchoolNew York, NY, 10011 |
| #87 | Anderson University (IN)Anderson, IN, 46012 |
| #88 | University of Wisconsin--StoutMenomonie, WI, 54751 |
| #89 | Bethel CollegeNorth Newton, KS, 67107 |
| #90 | Cal Poly HumboldtArcata, CA, 95521 |
| #91 | Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester, NY, 14623 |
| #92 | California College of the ArtsSan Francisco, CA, 94107 |
| #93 | Viterbo UniversityLa Crosse, WI, 54601 |
| #94 | Jacksonville UniversityJacksonville, FL, 32211 |
| #95 | Carthage CollegeKenosha, WI, 53140 |
| #96 | SUNY PotsdamPotsdam, NY, 13676 |
| #97 | Utah Tech UniversityGeorge, UT, 84770 |
| #98 | University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA, 95064 |
| #99 | Centenary CollegeShreveport, LA, 71104 |
| #100 | Russell Sage CollegeTroy, NY, 12180 |
| #101 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA, 19530 |
| #102 | University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL, 32816 |
| #103 | Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC, 27607 |
| #104 | DePaul UniversityChicago, IL, 60604 |
| #105 | CUNY--New York City College of TechnologyBrooklyn, NY, 11201 |
| #106 | University of New HavenWest Haven, CT, 06516 |
| #107 | Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY, 13244 |
| #108 | Wagner CollegeStaten Island, NY, 10301 |
| #109 | Walla Walla UniversityCollege Place, WA, 99324 |
| #110 | Belmont UniversityNashville, TN, 37212 |
| #111 | Covenant CollegeLookout Mountain, GA, 30750 |
| #112 | Luther CollegeDecorah, IA, 52101 |
| #113 | Molloy UniversityRockville Centre, NY, 11571 |
| #114 | Houghton UniversityHoughton, NY, 14744 |
| #115 | Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA, 30319 |
| #116 | Stevens Institute of TechnologyHoboken, NJ, 07030 |
| #117 | St. Cloud State UniversityCloud, MN, 56301 |
| #118 | Berkeley College (NJ)Woodland Park, NJ, 07424 |
| #119 | Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA, 31907 |
| #120 | Marymount Manhattan CollegeNew York, NY, 10021 |
| #121 | The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC, 20064 |
| #122 | Louisiana Christian UniversityPineville, LA, 71359 |
| #123 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBuffalo, NY, 14222 |
| #124 | Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City, OK, 73106 |
| #125 | Fordham UniversityNew York, NY, 10023 |
| #126 | Evangel UniversitySpringfield, MO, 65802 |
| #127 | School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY, 10010 |
| #128 | Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX, 75205 |
| #129 | University of Puget SoundTacoma, WA, 98416 |
| #130 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA, 23284 |
| #131 | Chapman UniversityOrange, CA, 92866 |
| #132 | George Fox UniversityNewberg, OR, 97132 |
| #133 | Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA, 95765 |
| #134 | Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, 19104 |
| #135 | Point Park UniversityPittsburgh, PA, 15222 |
| #136 | Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA, 90045 |
| #137 | Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattle, WA, 98119 |
| #138 | Lipscomb UniversityNashville, TN, 37207 |
| #139 | Quinnipiac UniversityHamden, CT, 06518 |
| #140 | University of DenverDenver, CO, 80208 |
| #141 | Loyola University New OrleansNew Orleans, LA, 70118 |
| #142 | Lasell UniversityNewton, MA, 02466 |
| #143 | Massachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston, MA, 02115 |
| #144 | Samford UniversityBirmingham, AL, 35229 |
| #145 | CUNY--City CollegeNew York, NY, 10031 |
| #146 | Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ, 07043 |
| #147 | Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA, 90639 |
| #148 | Columbia College ChicagoChicago, IL, 60605 |
| #149 | Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia, AR, 71998 |
| #150 | Kent State UniversityKent, OH, 44242 |
| #151 | Cleveland State UniversityCleveland, OH, 44115 |
| #152 | Ringling College of Art and DesignSarasota, FL, 34234 |
| #153 | Art Academy of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH, 45202 |
| #154 | LIM CollegeNew York, NY, 10017 |
| #155 | Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY, 11549 |
| #156 | Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, VA, 22601 |
| #157 | Union UniversityJackson, TN, 38305 |
| #158 | Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityWest Palm Beach, FL, 33401 |
| #159 | Pace UniversityNew York, NY, 10038 |
| #160 | Portland State UniversityPortland, OR, 97207 |
| #161 | Brenau UniversityGainesville, GA, 30501 |
| #162 | Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA, 91702 |
| #163 | University of North TexasDenton, TX, 76203 |
| #164 | Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TX, 79699 |
| #165 | University of Massachusetts DartmouthNorth Dartmouth, MA, 02747 |
| #166 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN, 37132 |
| #167 | Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN, 37760 |
| #168 | New England CollegeHenniker, NH, 03242 |
| #169 | Maryville CollegeMaryville, TN, 37804 |
| #170 | DigiPen Institute of TechnologyRedmond, WA, 98052 |
| #171 | University of Wisconsin--MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI, 53201 |
| #172 | Radford UniversityRadford, VA, 24142 |
| #173 | Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO, 63301 |
| #174 | Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids, MI, 49307 |
| #175 | University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO, 80639 |
| #176 | University of MontanaMissoula, MT, 59812 |
| #177 | Antioch CollegeYellow Springs, OH, 45387 |
| #178 | University of Nevada--Las VegasLas Vegas, NV, 89154 |
| #179 | Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS, 67260 |
| #180 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyNew York, NY, 10001 |