RISD— get to hang with the Brown students.

For the last thirty years, VCU has ranked anywhere from two to five in the national USNWR art school and MFA rankings.

What art field (visual, performing, other)? Some are stronger for certain areas so it helps to know their focus.

I’d add to the list Cooper Union in NYC

There is no definitive list, but I found this list pretty accurate. DD is at RISD, and when she was applying, she looked at a lot of schools on this list:
https://blog.prepscholar.com/best-art-schools-in-the-united-states

Vcu arts, especially if in state Va. very competitive.

Less competitive in state: jmu (need a portfolio)

Va tech (don’t need one)

Anonymous wrote:The risk of a standalone art school is that the student might want a different major later. Aside from a few top art schools, I'd look closely at regular four year universities for the flexibility they offer.

Carnegie Mellon has a reputable art school in PA
Pratt in NYC
Cooper Union in NYC
SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) in GA
MICA (MD Institute College of Art, Baltimore)

The risk of a standalone art school is that the student might want a different major later. Aside from a few top art schools, I'd look closely at regular four year universities for the flexibility they offer.

Anonymous wrote:Op here - thank you for replies. Everyone mentions RISD as top, what other art schools are 2,3, 4 in terms of reputation.

Depends on interest. Want to work for Disney? Ringling is a good bet. Fashion? Then try Parsons (New School). Cal Arts for animation. Pratt if you want Brooklyn. SAIC for theory.

Op here - thank you for replies. Everyone mentions RISD as top, what other art schools are 2,3, 4 in terms of reputation.

Don't forget about MICA in Baltimore!

Anonymous wrote:Are there any established rankings for art schools ?

Haven't seen any, but I've heard that the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is the best of the lot in terms of art schools.

Just art schools, or is DC also interested in universities with large art programs?
My DC applied to both. The big art school names are RISD, CalArts, Pratt, SAIC, SCAD. There's also Ringling and Parsons. Each school has a unique reputation and they vary wildly with regard to acceptance rates. SCAD accepts the majority of applicants; RISD accepted 14% for the class of 2028.
DC should attend National Portfolio Day to see where they stand and to learn about the different programs.

google USNWR "Colleges that offer a Fine Arts Major"

Are there any established rankings for art schools ?