When it comes to improving your creative skills and expanding your knowledge of arts and design, post-secondary art education is not something that many shy away from. We've compiled a list of some of the best art and design schools in the nation based on retention and graduation rate starting with the Midwest.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Founded in 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a private art school in Illinois that originated as an art student cooperative that developed into a museum and school. Considered the oldest art school in the US. and is considered as one of the well-known art schools.
With a moderately selective acceptance rate of 48.6%, SAIC offers a comprehensive range of courses in the arts, design, film, architecture, journalism and new media. It is a perfect choice for art students who have specific interests and focus, as they can find the exact art curriculum they want to pursue in school.
SAIC provides an interdisciplinary curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities, renowned faculty and freedom to develop as artists, designers and scholars. It is also ranked seventh in the best art and design college in the world.
If you are interested in studying at SAIC, tuition typically costs $50,000 to $65,000. Housing costs $15,190, and fees for books and supplies and other expenses are $1,770 and $2,000, respectively.
Northwestern University
An elite private research university located in Illinois, Northwestern University is the state's oldest chartered university, founded in 1851. It is highly regarded as one of the world's most prestigious academic institutions and is one of the largest endowed universities in the world.
Formerly affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, the University eventually became nondenominational and became the third largest university in the US. Admission to Northwestern University is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of only 9%. Tuition typically costs $59,000 per year at Northwestern University.
Ranked #1 for best colleges for communications and performing arts in the US. It also boasts a top four list of Best Colleges for Music and 30 Best Colleges for Art. This makes the University one of the top choices for arts programs, theater and theater production, voice and opera and music performance.
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
A private art school based in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) was founded in 1974 and is considered the successor to the Layton School of Art.
The school offers degree programs in the fine arts, including illustration, studio arts, graphic design, industrial and product design, and interior architecture.
Admission to MIAD costs $40,000 per year for tuition. The school boasts a ranking of 28th best colleges for design and 48th best colleges for art in the US.
The Institute offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs and a variety of studio art courses and workshops – plenty of options for students who would like to pursue art as a major.
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private research university in Chicago founded in 1898 by Vincentians. It is the largest Catholic university in North America by enrollment, offering more than 300 degree programs across its two campuses. The University also places particular emphasis on accepting first-generation students and others from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In terms of arts, the university offers two degree programs: a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts. Apart from these, the university also offers two joint degree programs – a Bachelor of Science in Optical Communications and a Bachelor of Science in Art History with a minor in Visual Studies. The two programs are offered together with an undergraduate minor in Visual Studies, allowing students to pursue a career in art, design, and contemporary art studies.
With tuition and fees reaching $42,000 per year, DePaul University offers students small class sizes and personalized teaching methods, making it one of the best colleges in the Midwest.
University of Wisconsin Madison
If you are looking for an art school to learn how to make art or study art in general, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the place to go. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, it is the state's premier university and is also home to the MacEwan Art Gallery, one of the most extensive art galleries in the country. The gallery always hosts exhibits, many of which focus on the work of Wisconsin-based artists.
UW-Madison is a public research university founded in 1848 and is the first public university established in Wisconsin and remains the oldest and largest public university in the state.
The Department of Art's highly ranked degree programs provide creative students with the critical and artistic skills to excel in contemporary, multidisciplinary art and design practices. The art curriculum also promotes positive collaboration and innovative art production while encouraging diverse viewpoints.
UW-Madison charges students $10,000 to $38,000 for tuition and other fees and has an acceptance rate of 54%.
Kansas City Art Institute
The Art Institute of Kansas City has been providing world-class art education for more than 80 years. Founded in 1885, originally as a 'Sketch Club' created by art lovers, KCAI provides an excellent art education through a unique combination of hands-on learning and innovative theories.
Its core curriculum and student-centered approach have won many awards over the years, including being named “Top Ten Best Schools” in the Art Education category by Art Education Magazine. Most recently, the Lowen Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Studies from the American Council on Education.
With tuition and fees costing approximately $40,000, KCAI offers students a comprehensive liberal arts program with majors in animation, art history, ceramics, creative writing, digital filmmaking, fiber arts, graphic design, illustration, interactive art, painting, photography, engraving, product design or sculpture.
The school boasts a top 39 ranking among US colleges for art studies, top 65 for film and photography, and top 69 for design programs.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Offering a transformative education where students find their personal and professional purpose as creative and cultural leaders, Minneapolis College of Art and Design is one of the most recognized art schools in the country, offering programs ranging from fine art to animation and design.
MCAD was founded by the trustees of the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts in 1886 as a private college specializing in the visual arts. It is only one of the few major art schools that offer comic art as a degree. MCAD's emphasis on art is evident in the large number of courses that include the medium. For example, one of the most popular electives is digital painting, which requires students to learn and apply techniques in the digital art world.
Attendance at MCAD costs about $41,000 and has an acceptance rate of 59%. The school is ranked 25th and 37th best college for art and design in the US.
Columbus College of Art and Design
Columbus College of Art and Design is located in Ohio's alternative to the Ivy League. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private colleges of art and design in the US. The school is the brainchild of women whose main concern is to establish an art school in Columbus, forming the Columbus Art Association.
CCAD provides students with an affordable, high-quality education in the lifelong pursuit of excellence. It offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in over 20 disciplines, including illustration, animation, commercial and advertising arts, fashion and apparel design, and fine arts.
The school has an impressive artistic history and offers state-of-the-art facilities and a faculty of industry professionals. The school encourages its students to use their artistic talent to change culture and commerce for the better. CCAD tuition and fees cost approximately $38,000 per year.
Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art & Design
Ferris State University is a public university in Big Rapids, Michigan that focuses on the arts and sciences.
It was founded in 1884 by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from Tioga County, New York, originally named the Big Rapids Industrial School.
In 2000 it merged with Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD), founded in 1928 as a private art academy.
Offering bachelor's and master's degree programs that include design, visual arts, decorative arts, art history, and critical theory, KCAD's program in Studio Art is ranked 110th in the United States, tied with other prestigious universities in the country .
With tuition costing around $13.00, KCAD boasts a vibrant creative community, hands-on learning, personalized instruction, and powerful resources that combine to turn each student's passion for the arts and design into a marketable skill set .
Cleveland Institute of Art
A premier art and design college located in Ohio's University Circle neighborhood, the Cleveland Institute of Art was founded in 1882, originally as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. The school became a co-educational institution in 1892.
A top choice for rigorous artistic education, CIA offers a friendly, collaborative environment, individual studio spaces and a professional faculty with industry experience.
The school's tuition and fees cost approximately $44,000 per year, offering a wide variety of fine arts degree programs, study abroad opportunities, mobility programs, and internships.
