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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Painting

66 Ranked Colleges
501 Degrees Awarded
$34,700 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Painting Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major” ranking.

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

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 501 painting graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,682 and $26,217 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major” ranking analyzed 66 colleges that offered 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.

More Ways to Rank Painting Schools

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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 for a Bachelor’s 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Painting

1
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 #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full PAFA Painting Report

2
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 66 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, American Academy of Art landed the #2 spot on the list. American Academy of Art is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 7 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Painting at The Academy

3
SFAI crest
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco, California

Out of the 66 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, San Francisco Art Institute landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full San Francisco Art Institute Painting Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. EAPD is a small public school situated in San Juan, . It awarded 13 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Painting at EAPD

5
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas City Art Institute. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

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.

Read full report on Painting at Kansas City Art Institute

6
Montserrat College of Art crest
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts

Montserrat College of Art landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Montserrat College of Art is a small school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 6 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Montserrat College of Art Painting Report

7

With a ranking of #7, Cleveland Institute of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. CIA is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 12 bachelors’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%. 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.

Full CIA Painting Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Pacific Northwest College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Pacific Northwest College of Art is located in Portland, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

Full Pacific Northwest College of Art Painting Report

9

Minneapolis College of Art and Design ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at MCAD

10
Maine College of Art crest
Maine College of Art
Portland, Maine

Maine College of Art landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Maine College of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Portland, Maine. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Painting at Maine College of Art

11

Massachusetts College of Art and Design landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 27 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design Painting Report

12
RISD crest
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island School of Design landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Rhode Island School of Design is a small school located in Providence, Rhode Island that handed out 28 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Rhode Island School of Design Painting Report

13

Maryland Institute College of Art landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Maryland Institute College of Art is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Painting at MICA

14
AAC crest
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

Art Academy of Cincinnati came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. This small school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

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.

Read full report on Painting at Art Academy of Cincinnati

15
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

With a ranking of #15, Pratt Institute - Main did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Pratt Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 Pratt Institute - Main

16
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Purchase College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Purchase College is a small public school situated in Purchase, New York. It awarded 25 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Purchase College Painting Report

17
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 for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #17. California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

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. 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%.

Full California College of the Arts Painting Report

18

Savannah College of Art and Design landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Savannah College of Art and Design is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Savannah, Georgia. It awarded 38 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 SCAD Painting Report

19
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri

College of the Ozarks did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #19. Point Lookout, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

Full Hard Work U Painting Report

20
Franklin College of Indiana crest
Franklin College
Franklin, Indiana

With a ranking of #20, Franklin College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Franklin, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at Franklin College

21
Anderson University South Carolina crest
Anderson University South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina

Anderson University South Carolina landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Anderson, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Anderson University South Carolina

22

Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #22. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German is a private not-for-profit institution located in San German, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German

23
SUNY New Paltz crest
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, New York

With a ranking of #23, SUNY New Paltz did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Painting at SUNY New Paltz

24
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

With a ranking of #24, SUNY Fredonia did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. SUNY Fredonia is located in Fredonia, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read more about Painting at SUNY Fredonia

25
Arcadia crest
Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania

Arcadia University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #25. Arcadia University is a small school located in Glenside, Pennsylvania that handed out 5 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.

Full Arcadia Painting Report

Notes and References

References

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