Art is the bee’s knees when it comes to measuring intellectual sophistication. In this regard, the estimated worth of the world’s art market in 2022 was calculated at $450 billion, with a quarter of that total coming from the United States.
US has been a significant contributor to the world of art on a global scale, along with containing world-recognized art schools. Not to mention, New York City evolved into the de facto hub of modern artwork, owing a great deal to abstract expressionism, which also paved the way for a variety of different breakthroughs.
That’s why the country is now widely regarded as a leading destination for pursuing professional degrees related to art, as its internationally acclaimed colleges and universities offer a diverse range of art courses. All in all, the USA has some of the best educational institutions in relation to art, and we have listed some of the best ones in our article below!
Top Art Schools in the USA
1. Yale University
Our number one recommendation is Yale University, a privately funded research establishment affiliated with the esteemed Ivy League, a network of distinguished higher learning facilities in the United States. The institution achieved a notable position as one of the highest higher education providers in several educational world rankings. It boasts a distinguished lineup of Yale alumni, with around 50 Nobel Laureates, among whom are renowned individuals such as George Akerlof in 1962 and Eric Allin Cornell in 2001.
Yale’s undergraduate school, Yale College, has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Art as a primary option for international and local students. Those who intend to study for a B.A. degree at Yale must apply to Yale College. The art curriculum provides a liberal arts education in visual art through employment across a range of platforms. 100-level courses emphasize visual conceptualization and interpretation. Modules 200–499 provide progressively extensive study in any number of artistic disciplines, such as graphic arts, painting/printmaking, photography, and sculptures.
This program emphasizes studio work and provides learners with a foundation in artwork. They can convey their understanding of art theory to other contexts and mediums. Moreover, creating connections between art development art, history, and philosophy is another skill they may acquire.
2. Maryland Institute College of Art
Our second suggestion is the Maryland Institute College of Art. It has been around since 1826 when it first opened its doors to the public. With a high admission rate of 86%, this institution is one of the most historic and is considered one of the leading institutes in the country that offers degrees in design and art.
The institution has established itself as a front-runner in the field of art and design schooling by cultivating a student body of competent and artistic individuals who dedicate themselves to pushing their fields to new limits. The general fine arts (GFA) program offered here for U.S. and international students has three distinct stages of required coursework (sophomore, junior, and senior years) plus two kinds of unrestricted electives.
In the first part, seven art classes totaling 21 credits make up the initial round of coursework. The subsequent set of electives is considerably more flexible, allowing for a total of four courses (12 credits) to come among any field of the studio’s study.
Students in the GFA program are encouraged to work with peers from other departments, allowing them to explore new mediums and approaches to their work. Despite these transdisciplinary prospects, conventional skills are essential.
Eligibility for this course requires a previous 12-year school qualification along with an IELTS proficiency test for qualifying students and previous artwork of the candidate. To aid students with financial needs, the MICA Scholarship is available, serving fee waivers and discounts.
3. School of the Art Institute of Chicago
We introduce you to the School of Art Institute of Chicago, which was recently ranked one of the top 10 best art schools in the world. This institution is the cream of the crop when it comes to recognized educational institutions of art and design. It has a rich history and is situated among the most remarkable U.S. cities.
Among its other offerings, it provides international students with a Bachelor of Fine Arts that may be continued to a master’s degree level if they so want. SAIC’s art and technology studies programs use visual arts to study technical innovation. Students may use VR, vintage motion, digital, neon, and biological art labs to create creative works to represent their styles of artwork.
Through these four-year bachelor of arts programs, students have the option of pursuing either a cross-disciplinary or focused course to specialize in areas such as architecture, interior architecture, designed objects, performance, and many others.
Applicants must provide academic records, a creative statement, and two references to be eligible. The most important thing is to exhibit a portfolio of your recent and best work. Moreover, SAIC provides several merit-based and financial need scholarships to attract talented and economically diverse students, which can be accessed through their website.
4. Columbia University
Prior to Columbia College, which was established in 1754 as King’s College, there were connections linking New York City and Columbia University. The curriculum, job shadowing, employment opportunities, and the substantial population of international learners have made Columbia University an appealing option. It’s included among the top 50 of the world’s most prestigious institutes, with 86 Nobel Award winners among its alumni.
More than 18,000 students from other countries are enrolled at Columbia. Columbia’s Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees in creative writing, cinema and media production, and visual art are all offered within the School of the Arts. One of the concentrations for international students is the Bachelor of Art History and Visual Arts, which is a three-year program.
Studies in the visual arts course at the School of the Arts may count toward a liberal arts degree, or they can lead to a focus on art or a dual major within the Art History and Archaeology Institute. When it comes to access to visual art, nothing compares to NYC. Regular trips every week to various art institutions are a provision of this program. In this subject, undergraduates are exposed to many forms of visual art and permitted to form their own opinions based on observation.
5. University of Southern California
The last name on our list is the University of Southern California, widely recognized as one of the nation’s top research institutions. It manages a network of research centers numbering in the hundreds, including the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems and the Southern California Earthquake Center. LaVar Burton, Forest Whitaker, Judd Apatow, and Neil Armstrong are USC alumni.
USC is considered a top choice for international students to pursue art degrees, including the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art (BFA Art), Bachelor of Art in Art (B.A. Art), and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design (BFA Design). Its curriculum gives students a solid grounding in the humanities and in-depth training in design and fine arts.
This curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in all elements of arts while enabling them to choose electives that suit their passions and professional objectives. Moreover, the programs completely immerse students in the world of art and design before they graduate and look for their respective dream careers. The courses in this program cover a wide range of subjects, from drawing and painting to sculpture, installation art, etc.
FAQs: Art Studies in the USA
Why Should You Study Art in the USA?
The art market has been upgraded in recent decades, making a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree a standard prerequisite for those seeking exhibition participation and public recognition. Students who study in the United States have access to top-notch educational resources and the guidance of competent instructors, allowing them to develop their artistic and cognitive abilities while studying art.
Students who put their training into practice continually go on to successful careers as lead artists, visual merchandisers, marketing strategists, multimedia editors, and other creative positions in the business world.
The United States is a center for modern art, providing artists with opportunities to develop their talents via exposure to new ideas and innovative techniques. The list of universities provided above all has expertise in providing international students with world-recognized degrees in art majors.
We hope this article was of maximum help to you. Feel free to visit our Study in the USA Page and Open Courses in the USA for more information about the different university programs and scholarship opportunities in the country!
