15 best art schools in New York!

New York City is one of the most important cities in the world for culture, art, and music. Naturally, many institutions in New York City offer a variety of art programs. These programs range from associate to doctoral degrees, and some of the institutions also welcome high school students to give them a taste of art school life. New York City is a haven for art enthusiasts, with some of the best galleries and art museums in the world and a global cultural scene. Students can also pursue interdisciplinary programs that can help them broaden their studies into other academic areas as well. Read the blog to know more about the 15 best art schools in New York!

School of Visual Arts New York City

The School of Visual Arts in New York City is a private art school in the heart of the city. The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 11 specializations that range from animation, film, advertising, and interior design. There are also various non-major programs available at the undergraduate level.

This art school also has a Pre-College program for high school students, which helps prepare students for School of Visual Arts undergraduate programs. The specializations offered by the school are considerably more diverse at the graduate level. Students can pursue courses such as Master of Art in Curatorial Practice or Design Research, Writing, as well as Criticism. Alternatively, you may also be able to pursue a Master of Fine art degree in one of a dozen topics.

The School of Visual Arts also has courses for students interested in pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in disciplines such as Art Therapy, Directing, or Fashion Photography.

SUNY Binghamton (Binghamton, NY)

SUNY Binghamton is affiliated with the best public university in New York, Binghamton University. This art school enables students to study for their bachelor’s or master’s degree in art and earn both a Bachelor of art and a Bachelor of Fine art degree. The BFA course at SUNY Binghamton provides the chance to specialize in the five main art subjects like drawing or graphic design. However, students may also take up art history and other such electives.

The curriculum specially caters to students who desire to work as artists or go on to graduate school in the future. You must also complete numerous studio courses before proceeding to the Senior Exhibition Seminar, which involves a presentation of your work.

The Bachelor of Arts program at the school is for students who want to study a double major or obtain additional artistic talents by working in the studio. They also have the option of majoring in one of six disciplines, including photography, sculpture, and painting. Students can also indulge in art history classes, and for them, the senior exhibition seminar is not essential.

SUNY Binghamton provides undergraduates who show interest in gaining artistic experience opportunities to enroll in the Studio Minor. This elective consists of a six-course studio program focusing on one of five artistic mediums.

Rochester Institute of Technology

Imagine having one paper coffee cup, a plastic lid, a cardboard cup sleeve, and a wooden stir stick, along with instructions to design and build a scale model of a chair using only these materials in three hours. These types of challenges keep RIT design students engaged in their classes while also helping them develop creativity, productivity, and other abilities they’ll need in the future. It’s no surprise that IDEO, Fisher-Price, and Apple are among industrial designers’ best places to work. 

RIT offers one of the longest and most comprehensive cooperative education programs. Design students at the university have the opportunity to take advantage of the institute’s links to get real-world experience in their field of study. 

The Vignelli Center for Design Studies, which opened on campus in 2010 to hold Massimo and Lella Vignelli’s enormous professional archives, is also available to students. The annual lecture series at the center provides an opportunity to learn from visiting design specialists.

Colgate University, Hamilton, New York

Colgate University is one of the best colleges in the country for fine and studio art degrees. It is located in the small town of Hamilton and is a private non-profit liberal arts college with a small student population. The school is among the 100 most selective colleges in the United States and ranks #30 in the best school rankings out of 2,576 schools nationally.

The Colgate University campus is also consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses in the US due to its singular architectural theme and a hillside location with a lake nearby. In the most recent data year, around 17 fine and studio art students graduated from Colgate University with this degree. The university now has nearly 3,000 students in its 56 undergraduate majors. There is also a small graduate program for Master of Arts in Teaching available at the school.

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York

Cooper Union is a private non-profit school in Cooper Square, New York City. It was founded in 1859. The school follows the radical new model of American higher education based on Copper’s belief that education should be accessible to all who qualify, independent of their race, religion, race, or sex, i.e., open and free for all. A strong school overall, with a Best Schools ranking of #95 out of 2,576 schools nationally.

According to stats, around 61 fine and studio art students graduated with this degree from Cooper Union. The college is divided into three schools: the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, the School of Art, and the Albert Nerken School of Engineering. Through these schools, the Cooper Union offers degrees in architecture, fine arts, and engineering. Even now, Cooper remains one of the most prestigious colleges in the US, with all three of its schools ranking consistently among the best schools in the country.

Skidmore College, Saratoga Spring, NY

Skidmore Institution, located in Saratoga Springs, is a private non-profit college with a modest student body. Skidmore has the Best Schools ranking of #136 out of 2,576 colleges, indicating quality education.

In the most current stats, 58 fine and studio art students graduated with this degree from Skidmore. It has nearly 2,500 students enrolled currently. These students pursue a range of degrees across 60 areas of arts and science specializations.

Syracuse University School of Art (Syracuse, NY)

Syracuse University’s School of Art has been graduating students since 1875. It is among the top 10% of universities in the US for visual and performing arts. Today’s students from the institute can choose from seven undergraduate and graduate programs. The university offers three bachelor’s degrees in fine art: Art Education, Illustration, and Studio Art. The institute also offers a Bachelor of Science program in Studio Art.

Visual Culture and Studio Art minors are available to undergraduates who are studying courses other than art at the university. Some of the other courses available at the school are Ceramics, Jewelry and Metalsmithing, and Painting.

Through Syracuse’s Visiting Artist Lecture Series, students can learn from faculty members who are currently working and exhibiting in their professions, as well as from more than 30 guest artists.

Pratt Institute

One of the best art schools in New York, Pratt institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn. It serves as one of the world’s multicultural epicenters for art, culture, design, and commerce. Pratt is known for its programs in architecture, interior design, and industrial design.

Students benefit from an excellent learning environment that goes beyond the Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses. Pratt’s Schools of Art, Design, Architecture, Liberal Art and Sciences, and Information provide more than 25 undergraduate degree programs and specialties. The institute also has more than 26 graduate degree programs. 

Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university located in New York City’s Upper Manhattan. It was established in 1754 and is the oldest institution in New York. One of the most prestigious institutions in the US, Columbia consistently ranks among the best universities in the world.

This university does a lot of research and has a lot of international students. The Master of Fine art degree in Film, Theatre, Visual art, and Writing, as well as the Master of art degree in Film and Media Studies, is available at Columbia University School of the art. The university also provides an interdisciplinary program in Sound Art.

Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (Ithaca, NY)

Cornell University’s undergraduate art program provides students with a well-rounded education in various art forms. The Bachelor of Fine Art program at Cornell has two sections: an art element that comprises seminars and studio courses in various artistic mediums such as photography and painting and a business section.

Meanwhile, you must study for two years for a Master of Fine Arts degree at Columbia. Students are taught not just by Ithaca academics but also by two prominent artistic mentors whom the department brings in each year. Students also get various opportunities to display their work.

Purchase College, New York

Purchase School of Art and Design, located less than an hour from New York City, offers a variety of opportunities for students attending art schools in New York. You can choose from five majors in the Bachelor of Fine art degree, including Sculpture, Graphic Design, and Photography. Students can also pursue a BFA in Visual Art, which is an interdisciplinary program comprising two different visual art disciplines.

A Bachelor of Science in Visual art is also available for those interested in multidisciplinary study. Such students split their time between the School of Art and Design’s visual art program and one or more other subjects at separate schools. Purchase College also offers an MFA in Visual Art and a joint MFA in Visual Art/MA in Art History program, which lies under the School of Humanities.

Vassar College

Vassar college is a private, non-profit college with a small student body located in the major suburb of Poughkeepsie. It is an excellent college and is ranked #78 in the Best Schools Rankings out of 2,576 colleges nationwide.

Vassar provides a Bachelor of art degree in over 51 majors, including the independent major, which allows students to create their course of study, as well as various multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary fields of study.

The Juilliard School

The Juilliard School is a performing art residential conservatory in New York City. The institution was founded in 1905 and educates 850 undergraduate and graduate students in theatre, drama, and music. 

With some of the most prominent programs in the art, the school is widely regarded as one of the world’s premier theatre, music, and dance schools. It follows a school calendar that is divided into semesters. Students can take liberal art courses in addition to performing art courses once they arrive at Juilliard.

Hamilton College, New York

Any student interested in a studio or fine art degree should check out the courses at Hamilton College. Hamilton is a private, non-profit institution with a small student body. The college is located in a medium-sized suburb of Clinton. Hamilton college has a Best Schools ranking of #39 out of 2,576 colleges nationally. Approximately 18 fine and studio art students graduated with this degree from Hamilton.

Wagner College

Wagner College is rated #26 in the North Regional Universities’ rankings. Through a set of widely accepted success indicators, Wagner is noted for its Wagner Plan for the Practice of Liberal art. This is an experiential and liberal art core curriculum that complements one major and requires all students to participate in an internship. 

Nursing, business administration, and theatre are among the most popular majors among students at Wagner College.

What we have to say

• New York is the “City of Dreams.” and the best art schools in New York only prove it right.
• For individuals who aspire to follow their lifelong aspirations as artists, the city provides unrivaled access to the art scene. 
• Apart from the above reason, there are multiple reasons why New York is an excellent environment for students to pursue their aspirations. 
• Indeed, these art schools in New York will provide you with the necessary inspiration to begin your profession!

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Liked this blog? Read next: Royal College of Art: profile & courses

FAQ’s

Q1. What are the best art schools across the globe?

Answer – The best art schools across the globe, including – 

• Royal College of Art, London
• Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow
• RMIT School of Art, Melbourne
• Royal Danish Academy of Fine art, Copenhagen
• National School of fine art, Paris
• Central Academy of Fine art, Beijing

Q2. Can you be an artist without going to art school?

Answer – Yes, you can become a self-taught artist without going to school.

Q3. How many pieces of art should you have in your art portfolio?

Answer – It is ideally better to have the 10 best pieces of art in your portfolio.