15 Best Art Schools in New York

Best Art Schools in New York!

Many New York art schools are ranked among the top 20 art schools in the United States, and some are ranked as the best art school in the globe.

This should not come as a surprise, as New Yorkers have always embraced art since birth; they adore it, preach it, and practice it. This is the reason why their public library has the largest accessible art history collection.

In addition, Wikipedia mentions that “the Big Apple,” as it is colloquially known, is a global center for the international art market and the cultural capital of the world. This state’s fashion week is one of the finest, and the city government provides substantial funding for its art, largely as a result of the cultural movements that originated in this state.

Check out: Best Art And Design Schools in Australia

Best Art Schools in New York Requirements

For you to enroll in one of these Best Art Schools in New York, you must satisfy certain entry requirements; we will list the most common ones. However, each institution may have more or fewer entry requirements.

Here are the requirements for admission to the Bachelor’s program:

• Submission of a Request Letter
• Possibility of a nonrefundable application fee
• Submission of a purpose statement
• Presentation of a personal essay
• Presentation of Portfolio
• Submission of recommendation letters
• Transmittal of official transcripts
• Submission of standard test scores, such as SAT or ACT results.
• Students whose native language is not English are required to submit their English Language Proficiency Test results.

List of the Best Art Schools in New York

The following is a list of the Best Art Schools in New York:

1. Alfred Institution

As one of the Best Art Schools in New York, Alfred University is not widely known for many things in New York and the United States, but in the field of art, they have distinguished themselves. U.S. News & World Report ranks them as the tenth best school to study fine art and the first best school to study ceramics.

There is nothing more fascinating than discovering your true artistic calling and excelling in it, and Alfred University is the best at providing the space to pursue it. You are free to exercise and conquer your creativity, and you are surrounded by an environment that fosters creativity.

There are museums to investigate and galleries where alumni’s extraordinary works can be viewed. And if you are a fan of ceramics, you have encountered the god of ceramics creativity, as they are the best in the field.

Alfred University is one of the few art institutions in New York where you can earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in art within five years. They offer seven undergraduate art disciplines, including:

• Art
• Art – Ceramic Art
• Art – Drawing, Painting & Photography
• Art – Expanded Media
• Art – Sculpture/Dimensional Studies
• Art History & Theory
• Education – Art

And 4 art graduate programs, which are;

• Ceramic Art
• Electronic Integrated Arts
• Alfred-Düsseldorf Painting
• Sculpture-Dimensional Studies

Their tuition varies based on resident and degree choice, for

• Undergraduate
  • NY Resident: $21,248
  • Non-NY resident: $36,444
• Graduate: $23,400

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2. Bard University

Bard College is one of the Best Art Schools in New York that is located in New York. In fact, U.S. News and World Report ranked them tied for tenth place with Alfred University and Columbia University.

In addition, they were ranked as the fifth best painting and drawing school in the United States, the ninth best photography school, the eighth best sculpture school, and many others.

Their Arts division offers exceptional concentrations in;

• Architecture
• Art history and visual culture
• Dance
• Film and electronic arts
• Music
• Photography
• Studio arts
• Theater and performance

Undergraduates pay a little bit higher at Bard college, the average annual tuition here is $59,800.

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3. Columbia College

According to QS World University Rankings and U.S. News & World Report, Columbia University is the 22nd best university in the world and the second best in the United States. They are also one of the New York art institutions ranked tenth in Fine Arts, fourth in Painting and Drawing, and ninth in Sculpture by U.S. News & World Report.It is one of the Best Art Schools in New York.

There are numerous students at Columbia University who, through their studies, have discovered their passion and become international celebrities; some have even gone on to receive prestigious awards in their respective fields. They provide extraordinary art programs that help you master your creativity, including;

• Visual arts
• Dance
• Architecture
• Theater
• Art initiative
• Art History
• Film
• Literary arts
• Music

Columbia University Undergraduate students will need to pay an annual average fee of $47,136 whereas their graduates will pay an annual average tuition fee of $33,440.

4. The Parsons School of Design at The New School

This is one of the Best Art Schools in New York that is renowned for its fine arts and rated the number one Art and Design School by QS World University Rankings in 2022.

According to U.S. News & World Report, they are the fifteenth top Fine Art College in the United States.

The New School is in the business of designing a better world, and it does so by offering a vast array of extraordinary disciplines in which you can specialize, attain mastery, and begin designing your own world. You can offer their art programs both on-campus and online, so if you don’t have time to travel to campus, you can still teach these courses from anywhere.

You will still receive the same quality education from the same well-trained professors who teach on campus; only the mode of instruction will alter. They offer numerous programs including;

• Architectural Design (BFA)
• Communication Design (BFA)
• Design and Technology (BFA)
• Design History & Practice (BFA)
• Fashion Design (BFA)
• Fine Arts (BFA)
• Illustration (BFA)
• Integrated Design (BFA)
• Interior Design (BFA)
• Photography (BFA)
• Product Design

And many more.

Parson School of Design’s average tuition fee for undergrad is $25,950 whereas their graduate will need to pay an average tuition of $27,540.

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5. Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute is also one of the New York art colleges ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 15th Best Fine Art College and 11th Best Painting and Drawing College in the United States. Business Insider also ranks them as the sixth top Design school in the world. It is among the Best Art Schools in New York.

Pratt Institute’s faculty is one of the most organized and its studio resources are unparalleled. Students from the United States and all over the world attend the institution to study a variety of subjects, including arts sectors;

• Art and Design Education
• Digital Arts and Animation
• Film and Video
• Fine Arts
• Photography

Pratt Institute’s average tuition for undergraduates is $55,575 annually.

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Also check: 20 Best Art Schools in Europe

6. CUNY – Hunter College

Hunter College is a New York art institution renowned for its exceptional fine arts programs. U.S. News and World Report ranked them as the 23rd best Fine Arts institution and the 9th best institution for painting, drawing, and sculpture in the United States. It is one of the Best Art Schools in New York.

They provide a number of art programs for majors, non-majors, undergraduate and graduate students.

• The arts
• Drawing
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Printmaking

Students are allowed to acquire either their 24 or 42-credit hour BA or their 61 credits BFA.

Hunter College Undergraduate students will need to pay

• NY Resident: $6,930 per year
• Out of State Resident: $18,600 per year

Whereas for graduates;

• Full-time NY Resident: $11,090 per year
• Full-time Out of state resident: $25,650 per year
• Part-time NY Resident: $470 per credit
• Part-time Out of state Resident: $855 per credit

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7. Institute of Technology at Rochester

This is one of the art colleges in New York that is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the 23rd Best Fine Arts School and the 6th Best Photography School in the United States. Eleven of their College of Art students have gone on to win fifteen Pulitzer Prizes, while 92% of their college of Art graduates are employed within six months of graduation.It is among the Best Art Schools in New York.

They offer various art programs including;

They offer different art programs such as;

• School for American Crafts
• Art School
• Design School
• Film and Animation
• Photography

If you want to acquire an undergraduate degree, you are required to pay an average annual fee of $53,720, but if you want to acquire a graduate degree in Art, you’ll need to pay an average annual fee of $54,176.

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8. School of Visual Arts – New York City

School of Visual Arts is one of the Best Art Schools in New York that emerged as a leader in the development of numerous art programs. U.S. News and World Report ranks them as the 23rd Best Fine Arts School and the 12th Best Drawing and Painting School in the United States.

Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, a combination of Master of Arts and Master of Arts in Teaching, and Master of Professional Studies are offered in abundance. They offer such programs as;

• Art Practice
• Art Writing
• Computer Arts
• Design
• Design For Social Innovation
• Fine Arts
• ILLUSTRATION AS VISUAL ESSAY
• Interaction Design
• Photography, Video, And Related Media

Undergraduate students will need to pay an average of $810 per credit hour, whereas graduate students will require to pay $26,210 per semester.

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9. New York University

According to QS World University Rankings and U.S. News and World Report, the 39th best university in the world and the 28th best university in the United States, respectively, offer one of the finest art schools in New York. Their Fine Arts Programs are the 42nd finest in the United States.

For them, art is not merely a field of study; it is a way of life and a part of their culture. They have so many art theaters that offer a variety of experiences. In addition to having campuses in the United States, NYU also has campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, both of which offer the same art education.It is regarded as one of the Best Art Schools in New York.

NYU offers numerous art programs in nine disciplines, including;

• Art
• Business of the Arts
• Dance
• Design, Architecture, and Urban Planning
• Digital Arts
• Drama
• Film
• Music
• Writing.

Undergrads at New York University will need to pay an average of $1,537 per credit hour, whereas graduate students will pay an average tuition of $1,928$ per credit hour.

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Check out: 30 best performing Arts High Schools in the World

10. Cornell University

The 53rd finest Art School in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report, is Cornell University. Their Arts and Humanities college offers 45 disciplines and minors.

You will have options to choose from;

• Africana Studies
• Asian Studies
• Classical Civilisation
• Dance
• Film
• Viking Studies
• Visual Studies

Resident Undergrads at Cornell University will need to pay an average annual tuition of $41,958, while non-NY residents will pay $62,456.

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11. CUNY – City College

CCNY is one of the Best Art Schools in New York that offers a few Bachelor’s Degrees in the Arts, including:

Studio Art Art History Digital Design Photography Art Education Preschool to Grade 12
In addition, they offer Graduate Arts Programs such as;

• Studio Art
• Art History
• Digital Design
• Photography​
• Teaching Art K-12

They also of Graduate Arts Programs such as;

• MFA in Studio Art
• MFA in Digital & Interdisciplinary Art Practice
• MA in Art Education, K-12
• MA in Art History

CUNY – City College is a public university so their tuition is moderately lower, NY resident undergrads will need to pay an average tuition of $6,930 per year while non-NY resident undergrads will pay $18,600. NY resident Graduate students will need to pay $5,545 / semester whereas Non-residents will pay $855 / credit.

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12. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rensselaer is one of the New York art colleges that permits double majors. Therefore, more than fifty percent of their students have dual concentrations.

In addition to being recognized as one of the top 20 Game Design Schools in the United States, they are renowned for their expertise in game design. In addition, they are recognized as one of the top ten Integrated Electronic Arts Programs in the United States.

Their Department of the Arts has four minors, one major, and one Ph.D.It is also among the Best Art Schools in New York.

Undergraduate tuition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is $58,600 per year, and tuition for graduate students is the same.

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13. Purchase College – SUNY

SUNY Purchase College is one of the Best Art Schools in New York that offers the highest level of professional training to its students. They train their students and provide them with sufficient tools to begin or advance their professions and compete in the workforce.

The glory of Purchase College students is that they will pursue careers in fields that they are passionate about and have developed their passion for. They concentrate on various art disciplines, including;

• The Arts Management and Entrepreneurship Program
• Conservatory of Dance
• Conservatory of Music
• Theater Arts
• Arts Management

And there are so many majors and minors offered in these art fields. They also offer graduate programs such as;

• Art History MA
• Composition (Classical)
• Entrepreneurship in the Arts (Online)
• Instrumental Performance
• Jazz Studies
• Studio Composition
• Visual Arts Graduate Programs
• Voice and Opera Studies.

NY residents will need to pay an average tuition of $3,535 annually, while non-residents will pay $8,490. Graduate NY residents will need to pay an average tuition of $5,655, whereas a non-resident will pay $11,550 per year.

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14. SUNY – New Paltz

New Paltz is among the top 25 Best Value Colleges in the United States and is one of the art colleges in New York that provides its students with a quality education. According to U.S. News & World Report, they are also the number one Best Value College in SUNY and the sixth best public college in the United States.It is one of the Best Art Schools in New York.

New Paltz is home to many creative professors and students who are eager to assist you in launching or advancing your creative career. There are numerous programs to choose from in four disciplines, which include;

• Arts
• Theater Arts
• Music and
• Art History

In-state students in SUNY – New Paltz will need to pay an average tuition of$ 7,070 per year, but out-of-state students will need to pay $ 16,980 per year.

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15. University at Buffalo – SUNY

University at Buffalo is one of the Best Art Schools in New York that will help you develop both your creative and academic art world abilities. In addition, these skills will be developed in Studio Art, Post-studio Art, Graphic design, Aesthetics, Critical theory, and Art history.

They offer 10 areas of study in the arts, which include;

• Painting
• Emerging Practices, Art and Technology
• Sculpture and Installation
• Graphic Design
• Biological Art
• Photography
• Print Media
• Drawing
• Art History and
• Performance

Undergrad students at the University at Buffalo will need to pay an average tuition of $3,535 per semester whereas graduate students will pay $5,655 per semester.

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