The List of All U.S. Colleges with a Studio Art Major

Have you always enjoyed expressing ideas through visual mediums? Do you find yourself sketching and doodling things in your notebooks? Does dedicating four years to the study of the visual arts sound like a dream? Studying studio art in college may be just for you! Read on to learn more about the studio art major and the schools that offer it.

Why Study Studio Art in College?

Art, as a visual form of communication and human creativity, has existed since homo sapiens first began realizing the need to record and retell stories in vivid detail. While you probably won’t be scrutinizing caveman paintings in your college courses, this long history just goes to show that art has existed since our beginning to reflect and address the human condition.

If you want to create art in college, you can either go to an art school (an institution specifically for art and design), or enroll in a traditional institution and major in studio art. If you aren’t sure whether you want to devote four years to the sole pursuit of art studies or perhaps would like to double major in a social science or STEM field, then the latter option is probably better for you.

Pursuing a fine arts program at a traditional college or university will allow you to delve into the discipline of art while also engaging substantially in other subjects. Studio arts programs generally emphasize practice, theory, and a good understanding of art history. In addition to learning the technical skills required across various media, you will sharpen your critical thinking skills and your ability to interpret and articulate meaning. Studio arts majors often drawn upon their experiences and skills from their other courses when stepping the job market.

Studio art majors have a wide variety of opportunities post-graduation. Art majors are sought-after as designers, creative directors, architects, art curators, in addition to practicing artists and teachers.

It’s also not uncommon to see art majors break into industries that aren’t directly related to their major. Your skills in critical and conceptual thinking, analytical writing, and attention to detail will be highly applicable no matter where you go after graduation.

How Can You Increase Your Chances of Acceptance?

Unless you’re applying to a fine arts college, you will likely be considered foremost as a student, and not an artist. Consequently, building a strong, well-rounded application is most important to landing that coveted acceptance. This includes your academic record, extracurriculars, test scores.

Applying as a potential studio art major will help draw a narrative line connecting your demonstrated interests throughout your application, and show your passion for art. Take art classes in high school, submit to contests and competitions, join your school’s creative magazine club. Colleges will likely ask for your portfolio; start putting together pieces early.

Many students need help when putting together their college applications. It’s a lot of work, and even more so if you also need to put together a portfolio. CollegeVine can help you apply to your dream school no matter which stage you are in in your high school career. For underclassmen, our Early Advising Program will help you build a strong extracurricular and academic base to prepare you for the college application process. We’ll guide you in choosing the right classes and extracurricular activities and how to draw on your strengths to optimize your profile in advance.

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What Colleges Have a Studio Art Major?

Aquinas College (Michigan)Aquinas College (Michigan)

Arizona State University | ASU

Arkansas Tech University | ATU

Auburn University

Boise State University | BSU

Boston College | BC

Buena Vista University | BVU

California State University, East Bay | CSU East Bay

Calvin College

Carlow University

Chapman University

College of Charleston

College of Mount Saint Vincent | CMSV

Colorado State University | CSU

Columbia University

Concordia College (Minnesota)

Daemen College

Delaware State University | Del State

Denison University

DePaul University

Duke University

Eastern Michigan University | EMU

Eastern Washington University | EWU

Edinboro University

Elizabethtown College | E-town

Fisk University

George Mason University

Lipscomb University

Luther College

Marist College

Maryville University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology | MIT

Mercyhurst University

Metropolitan State University

Millikin University

Mills College

Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute

Montclair State University | MSU

North Carolina Central University | NCCU

North Dakota State University | NDSU

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University | NAU

Northwest Missouri State University

Olivet Nazarene University | ONU

Pennsylvania State University | PSU

Presbyterian College

Rutgers University–Newark

Saint Louis University | SLU

San Jose State University | SJSU

Simmons College

Smith College

St. Catherine University

St. Michael’s College

State University of New York at Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam

Stephen F. Austin State University | SFA

Temple University

Tennessee Technological University | Tennessee Tech

Texas Woman’s University | TWU

The Ohio State University | OSU

University of California, Berkeley | UC Berkeley

University of California, Davis | UC Davis

University of California, Irvine | UC Irvine

University of California, San Diego | UCSD

University of Cincinnati

University of Evansville

University of Georgia

University of Kansas

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth

University of Michigan

University of North Dakota | UND

University of Rhode Island | URI

University of Rochester

University of San Francisco | USF

University of South Florida | USF

University of Wisconsin–River Falls | UW–River Falls

Washington State University | WSU

Westmont College

Winona State University | WSU

Xavier University of Louisiana

Yale University

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