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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major

72 Ranked Colleges
646 Degrees Awarded
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Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Painting is the 517th most popular major in the country with 646 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major” ranking, we looked at 72 colleges that offer a degree in painting. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their painting program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for painting students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Painting

1
New York Academy of Art crest
New York Academy of Art
New York, New York

Out of the 72 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Academy of Art landed the #1 spot on the list. New York Academy of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 33 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Painting at New York Academy of Art

2
PAFA crest
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. PAFA is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 20 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Painting at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

3
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 72 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, American Academy of Art landed the #3 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full American Academy of Art Painting Report

4
SFAI crest
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Francisco Art Institute. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. San Francisco Art Institute is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full SFAI Painting Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. EAPD is a small school located in San Juan, that handed out 13 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Painting at EAPD

6
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Cranbrook Academy of Art ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Painting at Cranbrook Academy of Art

7
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Art Institute landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Kansas City Art Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Kansas City, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Painting at Kansas City Art Institute

8
Montserrat College of Art crest
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts

Montserrat College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #8. Montserrat College of Art is a small school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Painting at Montserrat College of Art

9

Cleveland Institute of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #9. Cleveland Institute of Art is a small school located in Cleveland, Ohio that handed out 12 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full CIA Painting Report

10

Pacific Northwest College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #10. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Portland, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Painting at Pacific Northwest College of Art

11

Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a small school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 12 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Minneapolis College of Art and Design Painting Report

12
Maine College of Art crest
Maine College of Art
Portland, Maine

Maine College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Portland, Maine, and it awarded 7 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Maine College of Art Painting Report

13

Maryland Institute College of Art ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Painting at Maryland Institute College of Art

14
RISD crest
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island School of Design did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 38 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at Rhode Island School of Design

15

Massachusetts College of Art and Design ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this small public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Painting at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

16
AAC crest
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

With a ranking of #16, Art Academy of Cincinnati did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a small school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 1 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Painting at AAC

17
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

Pratt Institute - Main did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #17. Pratt Institute is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Pratt Institute - Main Painting Report

18
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

With a ranking of #18, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Purchase College is located in Purchase, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Painting at Purchase College

19

Savannah College of Art and Design ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. SCAD is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Savannah, Georgia. It awarded 71 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SCAD Painting Report

20
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #20. California College of the Arts is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 7 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full California College of the Arts Painting Report

21

Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San German, . It awarded 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German Painting Report

22
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri

College of the Ozarks did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Point Lookout, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

Full Hard Work U Painting Report

23
Franklin College of Indiana crest
Franklin College
Franklin, Indiana

With a ranking of #23, Franklin College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Franklin College of Indiana is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Franklin, Indiana. It awarded 2 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Franklin College

24
SUNY New Paltz crest
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, New York

SUNY New Paltz ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major list. SUNY New Paltz is a public institution located in New Paltz, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full SUNY New Paltz Painting Report

25
Anderson University South Carolina crest
Anderson University South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina

Anderson University South Carolina landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Anderson University South Carolina is a small school located in Anderson, South Carolina that handed out 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Anderson University South Carolina Painting Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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