At Large  August 17, 2021  Art & Object Staff

The 5 Best Art Schools in the Northeast 2021 Ranking

Created:
Author: anna
wikimedia commons, Namkota

In today's world, professionals versed in art and design are in high demand, particularly those who can use their skills in both the fine arts and commercial worlds. Those looking to embark on a career in the arts have a huge range of options for their training and education. In this series, Art & Object delves into the top art schools and programs of the U.S. From public universities with state-of-the-art studios to solely arts-focused colleges with flourishing overseas programs, this list runs the gamut.

The top art programs of the Northeast, especially private and specialized schools, are some of the most expensive in America. Many of these institutions offer relatively traditional artistic training, teaching skills most suitable to an artist who will end up in galleries or auction houses. While these schools have faced difficulties over the last year or so, it seems that many used their resources to set up online exhibitions and to continue to offer career services without much, if any, delay.

Often located in or near centers of vibrant cultural and artistic life, these art schools offer invaluable exposure and enrichment opportunities to their students. Faculty members are often still actively working in the art scene and showing in prestigious galleries. And yet, despite this wealth of cultural exposure, the degree of diversity at these schools is not as high as one might expect when compared to other regions.

To determine its final rankings, Art & Object's editorial staff weighed the following factors: degree and curriculum variety, quality of school museums, school renown, tuition cost (undergraduate, graduate, etc. if applicable), employment rate, graduation rate, internship opportunities, student body diversity*, surrounding art scene, cultural opportunities, and student statements. While Art & Object has strived to craft a list in the most objective manner possible, we recognize that measures of "best" could include many other factors. With that said, here are the Art & Object selections of the best art schools in the Northeast.

You can find our rankings for the SoutheastSouthwest, Midwest, and West here.

*Editor's Note: LGBTQIA+ individuals are not always accurately represented in gender data reported by institutions and organizations.
1 of 5
flickr/Elvert Barnes
photograph of MICA's Cohen Center, a modern, angular glass building with three tree-like steel sculptures in front of it
5. Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

 

Baltimore's own Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) is the oldest continuously degree-granting art and design college in the United States. At MICA, undergraduate students are required to take a core "First Year Experience" and then choose one of nineteen majors. They may also add a liberal arts minor—art history or humanistic studies—or a studio concentration to the mix. A range of graduate programs, that span five different categories, are also offered by the school. Students may pursue anything from a Master of Arts in Illustration to a Master of Business Administration in Design Leadership.

Tuition at MICA, according to the most recent data available, is about $50,160 for undergrads. This makes MICA the most affordable school on this year’s list of top Northeast schools. The school’s student body is comprised of 31 percent domestic students of color and 25 percent international students. These numbers are slightly low within the context of this list.

Students and Alumni have access to the MICAnetwork, an online tool that connects them to work and art opportunities via third parties.

MICA’s campus also hosts at least ten studios and maker spaces that are open to different sects of the student population. This includes the so-called Dolphin Shop, a space created to facilitate forward-thinking design and interdisciplinary practice. Located within the Dolphin Design Center—home of the established Architectural Design program in addition to the school’s new BFA programs in Game Design and Product Design—this particular shop and associated degrees are emblematic of the school’s broad dedication to innovation and multidisciplinarity within the art and design worlds.

About the Author