2027 Best Fine Arts Schools in New York
Fine Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their fine arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 34 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best fine arts schools.
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Best Schools for Fine Arts in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall fine arts education in New York.
Top Schools in Fine Arts
Hamilton College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in fine arts. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 15 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $48,806 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,131.
See the full fine arts program report for Hamilton College
Students looking for a strong fine arts program will find one at Cornell University, which ranked #2. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 38 fine arts degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $31,073 in their early career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $17,153 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Cornell University
Marist College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 fine arts degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Marist College earn around $31,907 in the first couple years of their career. Marist College graduates carry a median of $25,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Marist College
Students looking for a strong fine arts program will find one at Suny At Binghamton, which ranked #4. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 16 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $25,751 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $22,286 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Suny At Binghamton
A rank of #5 makes New York University one of the top schools for fine arts. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. New York University awarded about 45 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from New York University earn around $33,506 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full fine arts program report for New York University
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 fine arts degrees were awarded at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $63,515 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fine arts program at Rochester Institute Of Technology
Cuny Hunter College earned the #7 position for fine arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 122 fine arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $28,185 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,000.
See the full fine arts program report for Cuny Hunter College
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #8 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 103 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $23,428 early in their careers. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,342 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Fashion Institute Of Technology
University At Buffalo came in at #9 for fine arts this year. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. About 75% of students finish within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 63 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $24,370. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Hofstra University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Hofstra University awarded about 13 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Hofstra University generally make around $20,770. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the fine arts program at Hofstra University
The New School ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 97 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $28,398 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in fine arts from The New School
Stony Brook University earned the #12 position for fine arts this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stony Brook University awarded about 31 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $60,047 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,000.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Stony Brook University
Cuny City College came in at #13 for fine arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny City College awarded about 116 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Cuny City College earn around $24,742 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,849.
Read more about the fine arts program at Cuny City College
Syracuse University earned the #14 position for fine arts this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Syracuse University awarded about 22 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $30,540 early in their careers. Syracuse University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Teachers College At Columbia University landed the #15 spot for fine arts this year. Teachers College At Columbia University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Teachers College At Columbia University awarded about 20 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Teachers College At Columbia University earn a median of $68,822 early in their careers.
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Cuny Brooklyn College placed #16 among the best fine arts schools. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 64 fine arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $22,633 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Lehman College placed #17 among the best fine arts schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 20 fine arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Cuny Lehman College earn around $27,582 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,630.
See the full fine arts program report for Cuny Lehman College
Suny At Albany earned the #18 position for fine arts this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 fine arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Albany in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $27,610 early in their careers. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Suny At Albany
Suny College At Brockport landed the #19 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 20 fine arts degrees were awarded at Suny College At Brockport in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $26,855 early in their careers. Suny College At Brockport graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oneonta came in at #20 for fine arts this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Oneonta graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $27,031. Students borrow a median of $22,046 to complete this degree.
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Pratt Institute Main earned the #21 position for fine arts this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 69 fine arts degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Pratt Institute Main earn around $25,616 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Pratt Institute Main
Cuny Laguardia Community College landed the #22 spot for fine arts this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. About 49 fine arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Laguardia Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $14,920 in their early career. Cuny Laguardia Community College graduates carry a median of $8,750 in student loans.
See the full fine arts program report for Cuny Laguardia Community College
Bard College earned the #23 position for fine arts this year. Located in the rural area of Annandale-On-Hudson, Bard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. Bard College awarded about 155 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $28,220 in their early career. Bard College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the fine arts program at Bard College
Cuny Queens College landed the #24 spot for fine arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Queens. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $24,910 in their early career. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,818 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Cuny Queens College
Erie Community College came in at #25 for fine arts this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 25 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Erie Community College in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,580.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Erie Community College
Rest of the Top 34 Fine Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine arts ranking:
View All Fine Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
