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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major

285 Ranked Colleges
2,984 Degrees Awarded
$30,385 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 37,413 people earned their degree in fine and studio arts, making the major the 31st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, fine and studio arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,051 and had an average of $25,492 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 2,984 fine and studio arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major” ranking looked at 285 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in fine and studio arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their fine and studio arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Fine & Studio Arts Schools

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The fine arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree fine arts students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major. Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY is a small private for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 69 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY

2
New York Academy of Art crest
New York Academy of Art
New York, New York

Out of the 285 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Academy of Art landed the #2 spot on the list. New York Academy of Art is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 46 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.

Full New York Academy of Art Fine & Studio Arts Report

3
Maine Media College crest
Maine Media College
Rockport, Maine

Out of the 285 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Maine Media College landed the #3 spot on the list. Maine Media College is a small school located in Rockport, Maine that handed out 11 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Maine Media College

4
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cranbrook Academy of Art. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major. Cranbrook Academy of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It awarded 37 masters’s Fine Arts 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Cranbrook Academy of Art Fine & Studio Arts Report

5
PAFA crest
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Out of the 285 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts landed the #5 spot on the list. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 27 masters’s Fine Arts 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.

Full Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Fine & Studio Arts Report

6
SFAI crest
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco, California

San Francisco Art Institute ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. SFAI is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 masters’s 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.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at San Francisco Art Institute

7

Pacific Northwest College of Art came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. 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 21 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Pacific Northwest College of Art Fine & Studio Arts Report

8
Maine College of Art crest
Maine College of Art
Portland, Maine

Maine College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking, coming in at #8. Maine College of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Portland, Maine. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 masters’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.

Full Maine College of Art Fine & Studio Arts Report

9

School of the Art Institute of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 126 masters’s Fine Arts 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.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

10
Pine Manor crest
Pine Manor College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Pine Manor College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. Pine Manor College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. It awarded 9 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Pine Manor College

11
VCFA crest
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Montpelier, Vermont

Vermont College of Fine Arts landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. This small school is located in Montpelier, Vermont, and it awarded 15 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 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.

Full Vermont College of Fine Arts Fine & Studio Arts Report

12
LCAD crest
Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California

With a ranking of #12, Laguna College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. This small school is located in Laguna Beach, California, and it awarded 11 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 LCAD Fine & Studio Arts Report

13
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #13, California College of the Arts did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. California College of the Arts is a small school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 28 masters’s Fine Arts 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California College of the Arts Fine & Studio Arts Report

14
Warren Wilson crest
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, North Carolina

With a ranking of #14, Warren Wilson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. Warren Wilson College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Swannanoa, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’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.

Full Warren Wilson Fine & Studio Arts Report

15
RISD crest
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island School of Design came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 36 degrees to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Rhode Island School of Design Fine & Studio Arts Report

16

With a ranking of #16, Massachusetts College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

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 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 more about Fine & Studio Arts at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

17
SVA crest
School of Visual Arts
New York, New York

School of Visual Arts did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking, coming in at #17. Located in New York, New York, this small private for-profit school handed out 53 degrees to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 2.0% 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 Fine & Studio Arts at SVA

18
Moore College crest
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Moore College of Art and Design ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. Moore College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees 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.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Moore College

19
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

Otis College of Art and Design ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 11 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full Otis College of Art and Design Fine & Studio Arts Report

20

Minneapolis College of Art and Design came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 8 students 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at MCAD

21
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

Pratt Institute - Main landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. Pratt Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 masters’s 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. 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 Fine & Studio Arts at Pratt Institute

22

Maryland Institute College of Art came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking. MICA is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 21 masters’s Fine Arts 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at MICA

23
Bard crest
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, New York

Bard College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major ranking, coming in at #23. Bard is a private not-for-profit institution located in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 masters’s 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Bard College

24
Mills crest
Mills College
Oakland, California

Mills College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. Mills is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Oakland, California. It awarded 12 masters’s Fine Arts 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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Mills College

25
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

With a ranking of #25, Academy of Art University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 55 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Academy of Art University

Rest of the Best 43 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Fine Arts Major

Not only did these schools make the top 43 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Art Center College of Design crest
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, California
27
Fontbonne University crest
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, Missouri
28
Alfred crest
Alfred University
Alfred, New York
29
CalArts crest
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, California
30
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois
31
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts
32
33
34
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
35
Azusa Pacific crest
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California
36
37
Goucher crest
Goucher College
Baltimore, Maryland
38
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York
39
Claremont Graduate University crest
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, California
40
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
41
42
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York
43

Notes and References

References

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Footnotes

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