Art Studio Schools and Programs in The United States

Art Studio Studies in The United States

Studio art is the practical study of making art: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography and newer media, taught in studios through projects and group critiques. Students develop their own artistic voice and build a portfolio, the collection of work that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), art directors, clients and buyers look at before hiring an artist or buying work. SpainExchange lists 29 colleges and universities in the United States with studio art programmes.

How the degree is organised

There is no national curriculum. Undergraduate education in the United States is based on the liberal arts and sciences, according to EducationUSA, the U.S. Department of State's advising network, so a studio art degree at a university combines art courses with general education. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. The main degrees are:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in studio art or art: a broad degree with many courses outside art
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA): a professional degree with a larger share of studio courses
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): the graduate degree for practising artists

Western Colorado University in Gunnison offers studio art as an emphasis of its Bachelor of Arts in Art, with drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and jewellery; students work through hands-on projects, critiques and studio work and graduate with a portfolio. At the University of Colorado Boulder, the BFA in Art Practices lets students take more courses in the art department and requires 57 credits in the major. BFA students can focus on one studio area or combine two or three. Admission to the BFA is competitive and based on a portfolio review, the academic record and motivation; students who do not pass the second portfolio review complete a BA in Studio Art instead.

At graduate level, the master's degree and the doctorate are the two main degrees. For studio artists, universities offer the MFA. Boulder's MFA in Art Practices lasts two and a half or three years and prepares students for careers as practising artists and as teachers in colleges, universities and art schools.

Admission and language

Each college sets its own admission requirements. In general, applicants must have completed high school and be at least 17 years old. Teaching is in English, and universities require an English proficiency test before admission. For studio art, a portfolio often matters as well, either at entry or, as at Boulder, before admission to a BFA. EducationUSA advises starting the search 12 to 18 months before the year you want to begin.

For a full degree, international students need an F student visa, which is for study at an accredited college or university. Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the student receives a Form I-20 from its international student office to present in the visa application.

Costs

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions. For public institutions NCES uses the lower in-state rate, so international students should check the rate each college charges non-residents. Community colleges, which typically offer the first two years of a bachelor's degree, are a cheaper starting point.

Where to study studio art

Programmes are spread across the country. Denver and Boston each have two schools in this directory: the University of Colorado and the University of Colorado at Denver, and Northeastern University and Emmanuel College. Other examples include large public universities such as The University of Texas at Austin, Purdue University, Florida State University in Tallahassee, the University of Maryland and the University of California, Davis; private universities such as the University of Miami and Fairfield University; and smaller colleges such as Mars Hill University in North Carolina and Gateway Community College in New Haven.

Recognition of the qualification

A studio art degree is a degree of the college that awards it, so its value depends on the college's accreditation. EducationUSA notes that a school certified by SEVP to admit international students may not hold national or regional accreditation, and that recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers is linked to accreditation. For artists, the portfolio and exhibition record count as much as the degree.

Careers

Graduates work as artists, in teaching and in related creative fields. BLS notes that most fine artists pursue postsecondary education to improve their skills and job prospects, and that many artists hold another job besides their art. BLS projects employment of craft and fine artists to decline 1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,300 openings a year, all to replace artists who leave the occupation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a BA and a BFA in studio art?

A BA is a broader degree with more general education, while a BFA has more studio courses. At the University of Colorado Boulder, for example, the BFA requires a portfolio review and students take a greater number of courses in the art department.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

Often, yes, especially for BFA and MFA programmes. Boulder bases BFA admission on a portfolio review, academic record and motivation.

How long does an MFA in studio art take?

It varies by university. At Boulder, the MFA in Art Practices lasts two and a half or three years.