Choosing an art school can be a daunting task, especially if you’re applying to multiple schools and want to find one that will accept your application. You might think that the best way to go about this would be to apply to a lot of schools, but in reality, it’s better to focus on only a few.
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While it’s not impossible for students to get accepted into many different art schools at once, it is difficult and can make things more stressful than they need to be. Instead of applying to every single school you come across, try narrowing your search down by first looking at acceptance rates and then using those numbers as a guideline for how many schools are right for you.
Art Schools With High Acceptance Rates
These 10 schools all have acceptance rates of at least 70% and are highly rated in terms of academics, campus life and student happiness.
These 10 schools all have acceptance rates of at least 70% and are highly rated in terms of academics, campus life and student happiness.
- The Art Institutes at California College of the Arts (ACCA) – San Francisco Bay Area, CA – 87% acceptance rate
- Art Center College of Design – Pasadena, CA — 81.4% acceptance rate
- RISD Rhode Island School of Design – Providence RI — 78.8% acceptance rate
Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, CA)
The Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California. The school was founded in 1930 and has an acceptance rate of 29%, making it one of the most elite art schools in the country. The school has an undergraduate student body size of around 1,200 students and an average tuition cost per year at around $32,500 USD/year.
As far as satisfaction rates go, they rank pretty well with 4 out 5 stars on Google Reviews and 3 out 5 stars on RateMyTeachers.com (this rating is based on over 471 reviews).
They also have a pretty good academic rating according to their US News & World Report ranking where they placed 63rd overall among all national universities and 60th among Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2018-2019 academic year based off of multiple factors including: Student-to-Faculty Ratio (16:1), Undergraduate Academic Reputation Index Score (90), Academic Ranking by Washington Monthly (#43), Research Expenditures (#14)
University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA)
- University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA)
If you want to study art at a school that is respected by industry experts, look no further than the University of the Arts (UArts). The University has been around since 1896 and offers five different undergraduate degrees in the arts: Digital Design, Fine Art and Illustration, Fashion Design, Graphic Design and Photography. For each major there are three levels of study: BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts), MFA (Master of Fine Arts) and DMA (Doctorate of Musical Arts).
- RISD College Graduate Programs in Art & Design (Providence, RI)
The Rhode Island School of Design’s graduate programs are highly regarded by students who plan on working as artists or designers after graduating from college. It has one campus with an enrollment cap at approximately 1,000 students per year—which gives it an extremely low student-to-teacher ratio compared to other schools on this list that also have high acceptance rates due to its size limitations–so there will never be more than 100 students taking any given class during your time as an undergrad here!
Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD)
The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is located in Baltimore and is known for its fine arts program. The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as well as Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communications and Business, Psychology, and Interdisciplinary Studies. MICA also has an Honors Program for highly motivated students who are interested in taking on more challenging coursework.
MCA has an acceptance rate of 61%, which is higher than the average acceptance rate across all schools nationwide at 57%. This makes it easier to get into the school compared to other colleges with similar admission requirements!
The out-of-state tuition fee at MCA can be more expensive than public schools with similar admission requirements; however, the average cost per credit hour at this college is $947 per credit hour – lower than most other schools around this price range!
Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
If you’re looking for a school that will accept you regardless of your age, the Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta is the place for you. Unlike other art schools with lower acceptance rates, there’s no portfolio required to apply to SCAD-Atlanta. The school does require an application fee, but the average student loan debt at this highly ranked art college is below $30,000 per year.
The large student body size (more than 7,000 students) means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to connect with others while getting top-notch training in graphic design or animation. You may even find yourself collaborating on projects with some professional artists!
If what makes SCAD so great isn’t clear yet: look no further than its high rate of student happiness (97%) or its low default rate on federal loans (0%).
Columbus College of Art and Design (Columbus, OH)
Established in 1879, the Columbus College of Art and Design is the oldest independent art and design college in Ohio. It offers both undergraduate and graduate programs for aspiring artists, designers and animators. The college’s graduate program is ranked #1 in the country by US News & World Report.
The school’s undergraduate students are required to take three semesters of studio art classes during their first two years (150 credits). These classes include drawing, painting and sculpture; ceramics; printmaking; photography; computer graphics; animation; web design; illustration or graphic design. Students also complete a liberal arts core curriculum during these first two years that includes courses such as English composition, history of world civilizations or Western civilization studies, foreign language requirement or general electives (30 credits).
In addition to its diverse student body—students come from across the United States as well as other countries around the world—Columbus College also boasts an impressive list of alumni: animator Don Bluth worked at Disney Studios before starting his own company Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg in 1981. In 2012 Diane Sawyer graduated from CCAD where she studied graphic design but did not pursue this field after graduation because “she wanted more travel.”
Alfred University School of Art and Design (Alfred, NY)
Alfred University School of Art and Design is a small, private school that offers a four-year BFA program in painting and drawing. The school has an acceptance rate of 45%, which makes it one of the most selective art schools in the country.
The degree programs at Alfred are designed to be flexible, allowing students to choose from three main areas: Conceptual Art, Drawing and Painting, or Sculpture/Installation. Students are encouraged to explore a wide range of media including ceramics, fiber arts, photography and printmaking—there’s no limit on what you can study!
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (Richmond, VA)
If you’re looking for a school in Virginia, the VCU School of the Arts may be a good option. This selective school offers a variety of programs and concentrations that can help you get started on your career as an artist. The acceptance rate at this school is about 75%, so even though it’s not very selective, it isn’t easy to get into either!
The university has several different programs that students can choose from including: Animation and Digital Arts; Dance; Film and Media Production; Graphic Design; Music Composition or Performance; Playwriting, Dramaturgy & Screenwriting with no concentration in playwriting/dramaturgy available solely through the School of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies at VCU’s Monroe Park Campus (MPC). All students are allowed free access to all performances offered on campus by its various departments.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston (Boston, MA)
The Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston is a public institution that was founded in 1873. The school, which has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,737 students, has an acceptance rate of 15 percent. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston offers bachelor’s degrees in about 30 different majors as well as master’s degrees in graphic design and visual communication; printmaking; graphic design; painting; sculpture; photography; industrial design; illustration; architecture—interior architecture & design (IA&D); architecture—architectural acoustics (AAS); architecture—architectural history & theory (AA); architecture—architectural technology (AAT).
University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art (Athens GA)
The University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art is a highly selective school, with an acceptance rate of just over 50%. The school is located in Athens, GA and has about 400 students. Students can take classes like Life Drawing and Painting, Digital Photography, and 3D Design.
The Cooper Union School of Art New York City (New York City, NY)
The Cooper Union School of Art’s location in New York City makes it a hub for artists, creators, and innovators. The school has a rich history, with its founder Peter Cooper being one of the first to offer tuition-free education to women and African-Americans.
The current campus is located on East 7th Street in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood; however, students can also take classes at other locations around New York City that are accessible via subway or bus. The school offers Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees within seven departments: architecture; painting and sculpture; photography; printmaking; interdisciplinary studies (IDS); design + environmental studies (DES+ES); media arts + technology program (MATP).
Not all art schools are equally selective.
So what do you need to do in order to get into an art school? This can be tricky, because there are many factors that influence your chances of acceptance.
First, you’ll want to make sure that the college or university is accredited by a regional accrediting body such as the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). If an institution isn’t accredited by an NCA-approved agency, then it may not be able to offer degrees or certificates that will allow students to transfer credits from one institution to another.
Also important is finding out if there are additional requirements for admission at a particular school—for example, some schools require applicants submit portfolios with their applications while others don’t require them at all. You might also want to know whether there’s a deadline for submitting applications; this varies from one college/university program to another but usually ranges between November and March each year. Finally, it’s crucial that students understand how much money they’ll have access once enrolled—for instance: How much does tuition cost per credit hour? Are there any special fees associated with taking classes? What about books or materials needed for courses?
