Do you dream of acquiring an art degree? Undoubtedly, education in the USA is high-quality and diverse, so you won't have to go far!

When it comes to art majors, there are numerous affordable options available. Each university boasts a high-class faculty and competitive art facilities.

Furthermore, these facilities only get better with an advanced degree; bachelor's, master's, PhDs. Therefore, with a degree from the best art universities in the USA, you can build a successful career.

So, if you're wondering how to become an artist, read ahead and prepare yourself!

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How To Choose An Art College?

The process of shortlisting institutes for higher education can be daunting. However, it is exciting too. To make the right choice, you must know what your criteria is.

Hence, the most important factors to consider before applying are:

Check Out The Faculty

How to become an established artist? Well, the most basic requirement is to have helpful guidance. And this only comes from those responsible for teaching you.

Hence, the quality of the faculty at an art college will be one of the most significant factors to consider before applying. The experience, interests, and skills of your teachers will impact you significantly.

Don't always look for prominent artists as your mentors. Remember, not every good artist will make a good teacher.

A wall art design
If you love to paint, there are several ways to monetize your interests. However, you must always look forward to polishing your skills to develop them further. Learn how to become a good artist before you begin pricing your creations (Source: Unsplash)

Speak To The Graduates

The alumni of a university know more about the education and value of the institute. They have experienced the institute as students and will have all the right answers for you.

Hence, it is of utmost importance to speak to some of the graduates of the art colleges you have shortlisted. They may even advise you on what courses to take in high school to prepare for art.

Look for those who may have made it big in the industry. If you can't find any, maybe the institute isn't revered in the art world. Also, the best way to find these people would be through Linkedin and Facebook.

Do your research and map the direction in which the graduates have usually fallen. Then, think for yourself; are you looking forward to such a future? If yes, you're on the right track!

Survey The Facilities

The facilities and infrastructure say a lot about the quality of education and life on campus.

Hence, look for good libraries, labs, studios, and artistic facilities which can impact your career progress and employment chances.

Moreover, make sure that the institute has the equipment to facilitate your art style.

A university library
University libraries are great places to draw inspiration from. They offer a wide variety of books which could help you in becoming an artist. Therefore, you should consider how well an institute has stocked its learning resources before you choose to attend (Source: Pixabay)

Go Through Their Financial Aid Programs

Scholarships and financial aid programs are essential decision-making factors for students. If you've always had outstanding grades or come from a humble background, you must look for such alternatives.

These scholarships will significantly help you finance your post-secondary education, and they are usually kept for students who may not be able to afford it otherwise.

However, becoming an artist is not as difficult or expensive. Just look for the institute that values talent over monetary incentives; soon, you'll land a good college for your artistic ambitions.

Tip: Although it may prolong the process of getting paid for your qualifications, if you're really good at your work, you may not even need a degree to practice your art!

Some Of The Best Art Universities In The USA

How to become a professional artist? Attend art school, that's how!

Now that you have the criteria to shortlist colleges, here are a few of the best art universities in the USA:

Rutgers University

Rutgers is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It ranks in the top 50 art schools in the USA. The evaluation is based on 66 metrics and pits Rutgers against some of the most famous art colleges: Yale University and Harvard.

The university offered 57 bachelor's degrees in art, 20 master's degrees, and seven doctorate degrees in Arts in 2019.

Moreover, it offers a Fine And Studio Arts program that works around performing arts and visuals. As a result, the university ranks 118th among the institutes that teach art.

Moreover, Rutgers is ranked 40th for its Fine Arts master's degree and 9th for its doctorate degrees.

One must also note that the average salary of graduates from Rutgers is around $29,300, which is significantly greater than the average fine art degree holder.

Yale University

Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut. It offered 46 bachelor's degrees, 74 master's degrees, and 12 doctorate degrees in 2018-2019.

These bachelor's degrees are double what the university produced one year prior.

Although Yale doesn't rank for Fine & Studio Arts, it has been rated 167th out of the colleges that offer Fine and Studio Arts.

Additionally, the master's degree makes it the 5th most popular art school in the USA. At the same time, the 12 doctoral degrees establish it as the 3rd most famous school in this category.

Bard College

Bard College is located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Being one of the cheaper options, the annual tuition fee of the institute is around $21,919.

As per the evaluation of 66 factors, Brad College ranks amongst the 50 most popular art schools in the US and the five best art schools in New York.

With its wealth of successful alumni, the art program at this college competes with big names such as Harvard and Yale University.

Additionally, the college offered 125 bachelor's degrees, 89 master's degrees, and five doctorate degrees in the 2018-2019 session.

As a result, Bard College was ranked 224th among the colleges offering degrees in Visual and Performing Arts, 41st for its masters in Arts, and 82nd for the doctorate programs.

The college gave out almost 152 bachelor's degrees in the 2018-2019 session.

Maryland Institute College Of Art

The college is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and offered 149 bachelor's degrees and 37 master's degrees in the academic session of 2018-2019.

This is why the college was ranked 14th out of the universities that offer Fine Arts degrees. But the school is still the 18th most popular for the Fine Arts master's degree in the USA.

The median salary for a Fine Arts student with a bachelor's from the Maryland Institute College of Art is around $17,200.

However, by pursuing the master's program, you can significantly raise your income to about $22,200.

Ethnic diversity is yet another outstanding component of the institute. Hispanic, Asian, White, Black, and all other races are live in harmony on campus.

Virginia Commonwealth University

The fine arts bachelors program at Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked 4th in Virginia and 85th on College Factual's best colleges list.

The institute has given out 89 bachelor's degrees in Fine and Studio Arts, making it 51st on the list of colleges offering degrees in said genre.

Moreover, 29 students earned master's degrees from the university, landing the 23rd in graduate Fine Arts programs across the USA.

A group of students studying together
If you're wondering how to become a good artist or are looking for new ways to add value to your inspirations, consider working in groups. Connecting with others will bring you great ideas and possible causes for collaborations (Source: Pixabay)

Cranbrook Academy Of Art

How to become a good artist? Attend a university like Cranbrook!

Cranbrook Academy of Art is one of the top-ranked institutes working on design, craft, art, and architecture. Around 100 students become a part of the artistic community at the academy.

The institute was created 85 years ago and has successfully provided the world with some brilliant artists and designers.

Although the graduate degrees at the academy remain unscripted, the course is challenging and exciting for students. In addition, the academic environment is rigorous and supportive for students.

The studies incorporate:

  • Workshops
  • Lectures
  • Discussions
  • Student-led symposia
  • Critiques
  • Guest sessions
  • Studio debates

California Institute Of The Arts

California Institute of the Arts is one of the top colleges for students looking to become professional artists.

It was inaugurated in 1970 and offered graduate and undergraduate programs in:

  • Dance
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Critical studies
  • Art

The institute upholds artistic discipline, active collaboration, cultural traditions, inviting experimentation, and independent inquiry.

Even the admissions in the institute are competitive and demonstrate merit. Therefore, each admission application should accompany educational records, recommendations, and the applicant's artist statements.

Furthermore, they also offer one-on-one academic support and academic advisors to help students with queries and advice.

Hunter College, City University Of New York

Hunter College is a public university founded in 1870. In 2019, the college gave undergraduate degrees to 111 students, making it rank the 30th on the list of colleges teaching Fine Arts.

Moreover, after conferring master's degrees to 56 other students, the college has also become the 8th most popular for art in the USA.

The college also sets a benchmark with a higher number of women undergraduates; the number is four times greater than that of male graduates.

Apart from dance, film, music, and theatre, ethnic diversity is an add-on. And if you only want the best creative assistance, this institute will tick all the boxes of your artist education requirements.

Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

The Art, Culture, and Technology program at MIT is renowned worldwide. It revolves around artistic research and new forms of art technologies.

The degree is a merger between the Advanced Visual Studies and Visual Arts Program, and it carries the rich heritage of:

  • Visual studies
  • Science and technology in critique
  • Cultural production

It offers students the opportunity to explore art, develop a perspective, and employ art in everyday life with industry, culture, and technology.

The institute has given out eight bachelor's degrees in 2019 and ranks 1645th on the list of colleges offering a similar degree.

Invest Time In The Process

Do not rush with the process. What makes a good artist is noticing, evaluation, and time investment. So make sure you're doing the same when choosing a college too.

You could also consult with seniors and pick a counselor for yourself. Doing so will make the process a lot simpler for you.

And if you need to study for entrance tests or need help curating a portfolio, you can always find an art teacher on Superprof. They will teach you outside the classroom and may make sessions interactive and enjoyable.

Superprof provides instructors for every discipline under the sun! all you have to do is register and choose one in your area.

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Ian

Ian Haynes is a digital marketing specialist and has successfully deployed over 500 pages of content as a ghostwriter for businesses of all sizes. He believes that for people to truly value your business and perceive it as a brand, your content needs to do much more than just inform, it needs to talk, engage, and convert. Outside of his work, Ian likes exploring Brooklyn with his Labrador.