Best Art Schools

How are the Top Art Programs Chosen?

Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.

Explore the Best Art Programs with Appily!

Create a Appily account to start saving schools to your personal list. Wondering where you stand when applying to the best universities in the USA? You can also see your chances of acceptance and get insights into your target, reach, and likely schools.

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross. It is one of the nation’s top religious schools and holds mass multiple times a day. U.S. News & World Report rates the school as #18 in National...

“…

In and out of the classroom, you are guaranteed to learn...A LOT. From going to conferences and listening to lectures by distinguished professors at many different universities to the actual learning in the classroom (and the fabulous & intelligent...

” – Lindsay from Downers Grove, IL
Middlebury College

Founded in 1800 as a ministry training school, Middlebury College is a 4-year liberal arts college in Vermont’s Champlain Valley and the first institution of higher learning established in the state. Middlebury offers bachelor’s degrees in over 45...

“…

The price of tuition is one of the most expensive in the country. Furthermore, Middlebury does not offer merit-based scholarships.

” – Ryan
College placeholder image

Pitzer College is a 4-year liberal arts college in southern California and a member of the Claremont Colleges. Pitzer offers bachelor’s degrees in over 40 academic majors including the first Secular Studies program in the nation. To provide a...

“…

Pitzer College as well as the entire Claremont Colleges offers many opportunities and resources including the Claremont Consortium, the Keck Joint Science Center, Student Health Services and others. Students also have the opportunity to create their...

” – Diamond from Los Angeles, CA
Bates College

Founded in 1855 by a group of abolitionists, Bates College is a liberal arts college in southern Maine with a focus on social justice and egalitarianism. Bates confers bachelor’s degrees in 35 academic majors and students have the option to pursue...

“…

What captured me was the modest intelligence of the students. Everyone here not only passionately wants to be here, but every student sincerely deserves to be here. The student body, friendly and easy-going, is a part of the aura of subdued learning...

” – Kiera from Lewiston, ME
Wesleyan University

Founded in 1831 by a group of local citizens and Methodist leaders, Wesleyan University is a liberal arts institution in central Connecticut. Wesleyan confers bachelor’s degrees in 45 academic majors. For students interested in the fine and...

“…

Around campus, there is a general environment of smart, open-minded individuals who are, by a large margin, happy to be at Wesleyan. The free exchange of ideas is valued greatly by students and professors alike. The professors are very engaging and...

” – Brendan from Middletown, CT
Davidson College

Founded by the Presbyterian church, Davidson College is a 4-year private liberal arts college in southern North Carolina. Davidson confers bachelor’s degrees in 29 academic majors and 40 minors. Davidson also features an Honor Code forbidding...

“…

Davidson is known for its strenuous academic curriculum, and it lives up to that reputation. There aren't any joke classes, but every class that I have had has been great. The professors actually do the teaching while they don't at large...

” – Andrew from Charlotte, NC
Carleton College

With campus overlooking the Cannon River, Carleton College is a 4-year liberal arts college in southeast Minnesota. Carleton offers bachelor’s degrees in 33 academic majors with a focus on developing skills that apply to all walks of life. For...

“…

Carleton offers a comprehensive liberal arts education. Because it is based on a trimester schedule, students only take three courses per ten-week term. This allows them to focus more on the classes in which they are enrolled without becoming...

” – Sara from Buda, TX
Hamilton College

Named for Alexander Hamilton and founded in 1812, Hamilton College is a 4-year liberal arts college in central New York State. Hamilton confers undergraduate degrees in 43 academic concentrations and features an open curriculum policy. To provide...

“…

I have been extremely pleased with my academic experience at Hamilton. My professors have challenged me intellectually and really pushed me to new levels, while remaining friendly, professional, and passionate about their subject. They have...

” – from MA
Wellesley College

Founded in 1870, Wellesley College is a 4-year liberal arts college for women in eastern Massachusetts as well as a member of the Seven Sisters Colleges and Three-College Alliance. Wellesley confers undergraduate degrees in over 50 departmental and...

“…

Wellesley is an excellent liberal arts school because, in a nutshell, they teach you how to figure the world out for yourself. They have excellence in everything: faculty, location, students, campus, dining, residential staff, dorms, comprehensive...

” – Christine from Salt Lake City, UT
Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University is a liberal arts university located in Lexington, VA, along the Shenandoah River and surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains. W&L's motto is "Non Incautus Futuri," which means "not unmindful...

“…

A small campus with a great community vibe, filled with overachieving students that graduate with starry eyes and top internships.

” – Maryland
Emory University

Emory University is a liberal arts institution located in Atlanta, Georgia, with a second campus in Oxford. The 600-acre campus in the Druid Hills neighborhood is home to four undergraduate and seven graduate colleges, as well as over a dozen...

“…

At Emory university every class is a challenge that you can handle if you apply yourself properly. You can not assume that whatever you did in high school will work here as well, but if you are accepted you should feel confident that you can handle...

” – Sophia from PA
Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University stands among the world's most renowned educational institutions, and we tap into our diverse community and world-leading digital technologies across business, engineering, the sciences, the humanities and the arts to chart...

“…

The amount of things you learn throughout your classes is amazing to me. Just this past 2 weeks, I've learned so many things about programming that it has made a noticeable change in how I approach problems.

” – Mathew from Jensen Beach, FL
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an institution in the UNC system and the first public university to confer degrees. A member of the Association of American Universities, UNC Chapel Hill is considered a Public Ivy and houses a...

“…

Although some of the classes are large, students have the opportunity for some one on one time with professors and teaching assistants through office hours and smaller versions of lectures called recitations. So no matter the class size, you are...

” – Alexia from Apex, NC
University of Virginia-Main Campus

Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia is a public institution in Charlottesville. UVA encompasses 12 colleges and schools conferring undergraduate degrees in over 70 fields of study. For artistically-inclined students, UVA...

“…

The great thing about UVA is that it is a public research university - meaning its resources attract the big names in most fields of study. This is great for you, the student, because you get to learn under such academics as Rita Dove and Larry...

” – Jessica from Chester, VA
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
Vassar College

Originally founded in 1861 as a school for women, Vassar College is a 4-year coeducational liberal arts college in southern New York State. Vassar grants bachelor’s degrees in 51 academic majors and was one of the first schools in the United States...

“…

Vassar's zero core curriculum approach to academics allows any student to explore their academic interests to the fullest degree. The professors are wonderful and the majority have the highest degree possible in their field. They are open to...

” – Erin from Boston, MA
Lehigh University

Founded by a local industrialist and philanthropist, Lehigh University is a 4-year private school in eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Lehigh is home to colleges of Business, Engineering, Arts & Sciences, Health, and Education granting...

“…

Even though I'm taking mostly prerequisite classes right now, they are more advanced than anything I'd taken in high school and the teaching styles of the professors are conducive to learning. The learning that occurs on campus isn't limited to...

” – Stacy from Hope Valley, RI
University of California-Berkeley

Founded in 1868, the University of California at Berkeley is the flagship of the University of California system of higher education, with a campus overlooking the San Francisco Bay. UC Berkeley is known for its academic excellence, student activism...

“…

Berkeley is a great school chock full of award-winning, book-publishing, enthusiastic professors who really know their stuff. If you take classes you're really interested in, you'll learn more. Don't forget about office hours, tutoring sessions, and...

” – Karina from Los Angeles, CA
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Boston College

Boston College is a 4-year Jesuit Catholic University and the first institution of higher learning founded in the city of Boston. BC is home to eight schools and colleges conferring degrees in over 50 fields of study. As a Catholic university, Boston...

“…

BC lives up to its Jesuit ideal in offering a well rounded, liberal arts experience. Small class sizes and engaging professors are essential parts of all classes. BC accepts a great deal of AP and SAT II credits, exempt students from less interesting...

” – Andrea from Lake Forest, CA
University of California-Los Angeles

The University of California in Los Angeles, better known as UCLA, is one of 10 campuses in the UC system. With 109 academic departments and more than 125 majors offered, as well as an average of one billion dollars funded for research every year and...

“…

The amount of knowledge you will gain during your first year at UCLA will be more valuable than any previous experiences. First, there is the academic aspect. Essentially, the material being taught in college is the same for any school, so self...

” – Joanna from Carson City, NV
Colgate University

Established in 1819, Colgate University is a selective 4-year private liberal arts institution in central New York State and one of the oldest universities in the northeast. Colgate confers bachelor’s degrees in 56 academic majors and the campus is...

“…

I came to Colgate with a pretty narrow idea of what I wanted to study and what I wanted out of my collegiate career. Colgate has, however, reshaped my ideas about the potential of a college education. I thought that both the core program and the...

” – Peter from Hamilton, NY