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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Fine Arts

150 Colleges in the United States
1,208 Master's Degrees
A master's degree in fine arts is more popular than many other degrees. In fact, it ranks #118 out of 1095 on popularity of all such degrees in the nation. So, you have a fair amount of options to choose from when looking for a school.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 150 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the most popular for fine arts students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 1,208 master's degrees in fine arts to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Fine Arts School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Fine Arts Your choice of school for getting your master's degree in fine arts matters. We created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Fine Arts ranking to make it a little easier to choose the right one for you.

A high popularity ranking isn't always a sign that a school has a great overall quality ranking for fine arts, but it does mean that many students are choosing the school for some reason. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

More Ways to Rank Fine Arts Schools

Associate Degrees in Fine Arts
Bachelor's Degrees in Fine Arts
Overall Popularity in Fine Arts

We have also developed a number of other rankings to help guide you in your decision-making process. To begin with, if this is not the degree level you are most interested in, you may want to check out one of the others noted above. If you would prefer to limit your search to a specific state or region of the county, see our rankings by location. On top of that, you can visit our other rankings for fine arts.

Learn about the most popular colleges and universities for fine arts students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

24 Most Well Attended Schools for Fine Arts Students Working on Their Master's

1
143 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IL
#4 Best Quality In IL

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in fine arts. Located in the large city of Chicago, School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #4 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Illinois.

There were roughly 143 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from School of the Art Institute of Chicago

2
51 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In CA
#12 Best Quality In CA

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in fine arts has to take a look at San Francisco Art Institute. SFAI is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Francisco.

There were about 51 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at SFAI in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from San Francisco Art Institute

3
38 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NY
#3 Best Quality In NY

School of Visual Arts is a popular decision for students interested in a master's degree in fine arts. SVA is a small private for-profit school located in the large city of New York. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #3 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in New York.

There were approximately 38 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at SVA in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from School of Visual Arts

4
33 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NH
#1 Best Quality In NH

Southern New Hampshire University is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in fine arts. SNHU is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized suburb of Manchester. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in New Hampshire.

There were about 33 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at SNHU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Southern New Hampshire University

5
32 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In PA
#3 Best Quality In PA

PAFA is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Pennsylvania.

There were approximately 32 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at PAFA in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

6
31 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In NY
#5 Best Quality In NY

Pratt Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Brooklyn. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in New York.

There were roughly 31 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Pratt Institute in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Pratt Institute - Main

7
24 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In CA
#4 Best Quality In CA

Located in the large city of San Francisco, California College of the Arts is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in California.

There were roughly 24 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at California College of the Arts in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from California College of the Arts

8
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
23 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In MA
#3 Best Quality In MA

Lesley is a small private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #3 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Massachusetts.

There were about 23 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Lesley in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Lesley University

9
New School University crest
The New School
New York, NY
21 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In NY
#7 Best Quality In NY

Located in the city of New York, New School University is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #7 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in New York.

There were about 21 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at New School University in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from The New School

10
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, NY
19 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In NY
#10 Best Quality In NY

Hunter is a very large public college located in the city of New York.

There were approximately 19 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Hunter in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Hunter College

10
19 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In MN
#1 Best Quality In MN

Located in the large city of Minneapolis, MCAD is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Minnesota.

There were about 19 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at MCAD in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Minneapolis College of Art and Design

12
18 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In VT
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type

Located in the town of Montpelier, VCFA is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

There were roughly 18 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at VCFA in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Vermont College of Fine Arts

13
17 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In CA
#11 Best Quality In CA

Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Claremont.

There were about 17 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Claremont Graduate University in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Claremont Graduate University

13
17 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In CA
#14 Best Quality In CA

Otis College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit college located in the city of Los Angeles.

There were roughly 17 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Otis College of Art and Design in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Otis College of Art and Design

13
17 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In TX
#4 Best Quality In TX

UNT is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Denton. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Texas.

There were roughly 17 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at UNT in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from University of North Texas

16
16 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In CA
#10 Best Quality In CA

CalArts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valencia.

There were approximately 16 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at CalArts in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from California Institute of the Arts

16
16 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In NY
#9 Best Quality In NY

UAlbany is a large public university located in the small city of Albany. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #9 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in New York. More information about a master’s in fine arts from University at Albany

16
16 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In ME
#1 Best Quality In ME

Located in the city of Portland, Maine College of Art is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Maine.

There were about 16 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Maine College of Art in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Maine College of Art

19
15 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IN
#2 Best Quality In IN

Located in the city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #2 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Indiana.

There were roughly 15 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Indiana University - Bloomington

19
15 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In IL
#1 Best Quality In IL

UIUC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Champaign. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Illinois.

There were about 15 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

19
15 Annual Master's Degrees
#6 Most Popular In NY
#6 Best Quality In NY

University at Buffalo is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Buffalo. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #6 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in New York.

There were roughly 15 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University at Buffalo in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from University at Buffalo

22
14 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In MO
#1 Best Quality In MO

WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Saint Louis. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Missouri.

There were about 14 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at WUSTL in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Washington University in St Louis

22
14 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In PA
#1 Best Quality In PA

UPenn is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Philadelphia. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Pennsylvania.

There were approximately 14 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at UPenn in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from University of Pennsylvania

22
14 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In MA
#1 Best Quality In MA

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a small public college located in the large city of Boston. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in fine arts in Massachusetts.

There were roughly 14 fine arts individuals who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in fine arts from Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Fine Arts award.

RankCollegeLocation
25University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO
25SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
25California State University - Long BeachLong Beach, CA
28LIU PostBrookville, NY
28East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC
28University of FloridaGainesville, FL
28The University of Texas at TylerTyler, TX
28California State University - FullertonFullerton, CA
28Laguna College of Art and DesignLaguna Beach, CA
25University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO
25SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
25California State University - Long BeachLong Beach, CA

Fine Arts by Region

View the Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Fine Arts for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

One of 12 majors within the Fine & Studio Arts area of study, Fine Arts has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Fine Arts

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
Art History774
Art Studies521
Other Fine Arts & Art Studies180
Painting149
Printmaking62
Sculpture47
Jewelry Arts39
Ceramic Arts & Ceramics32
Fiber, Textile & Weaving Arts25
Drawing24

Notes and References

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