In developing this ranking of 20 best deals on small colleges for aspiring artists, we sought opportunity-rich, small art colleges. They would have a net price comparatively lower than similar institutions of this size and specialty. We awarded points based on:
- scholarship availability
- diversity in faculty and student body
- advanced fine arts learning facilities
- progressive curriculum
- international exchange opportunities
- experiential learning frequent exhibition opportunities
- flexible degree track options
- any additional distinctions that enhance the small arts college experience
The 20 top art colleges profiled here scored the highest among schools with maximum enrollment of 6,000 students and a net price (per College Navigator) of $31,000 USD or less. Schools appear here in order of points earned in our ranking. In the event of a points tie, schools with lower net price are ranked higher. The following serves as a guide for aspiring artists seeking the best deal for their fine arts degree.
Ranking the Top Small Arts Colleges
#20 – Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Points: 7
Enrollment: 622
Net Price: $23,707
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in Wisconsin is in the city’s artistic third ward. The Institute has a structured, focused approach to fine arts higher learning. All students are required to complete two stages of foundational and cross-disciplinary courses before narrowing down to their specialty major. Fine arts majors at MIAD include:
- communication design
- illustration
- interior architecture
- studio art mediums
This college has community partnerships with renowned cultural institutions such as Discovery World Museum. Students are offered exhibit exposure and other opportunities. For those looking for a small-school experience, the Institute rates very favorably among private art colleges in the Midwest.
#19 – Art Academy of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Points: 7
Enrollment: 209
Net Price: $17,683
Located in the heart of the city, the Art Academy of Cincinnati is an affordable art college with a small and vibrant creative community. BFA students may choose from concentrations including:
- design
- drawing
- illustration
- painting
- print media
- photography
- sculpture
BFA graduates seeking an MFA can can earn their master’s in arts education at this institution. The Art Academy of Cincinnati prides itself on turning its fine arts students into contemporary, forward-thinking career artists.
#18 – Talladega College
Talladega, Alabama
Points: 7
Enrollment: 879
Net Price: $9,332
Talladega College is located on a quaint, rural campus in the foothills of Alabama’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It has the distinction of being the oldest private historically black college. This institution’s fine arts program offers BA degree options in:
- painting
- ceramics
- graphic arts
Talladega College students enjoy the benefits of mentor-based and cross-cultural learning due to its small student body and diverse faculty. Talladega offers one of the most affordable liberal arts degrees available. 98% of full-time students receive either:
- financial aid
- need-based scholarships
- grants
- loans
The can also apply for work-study programs.
#17 – Oregon College of Art and Craft
Portland, Oregon
Points: 8
Enrollment: 174
Net Price: $23,829
Oregon College of Art and Craft is a highly selective institution among top arts colleges. It’s located in one of the most progressive cities in the U.S. With a total enrollment of under 200 students, one’s artistic capabilities flourish in a unique mentor-based fine arts learning experience. This college offers a wide spectrum of BFA opportunities, including:
- book arts
- ceramics
- drawing
- painting
- fiber art
- metalworking
- photography
- woodworking and more
The breadth of expertise across its faculty allows for an optimum cross-disciplinary arts education. Additionally, OCAC has an impressive 82% rate of employment in the arts among its recent alumni.
#16 – Endicott College
Beverly, Massachusetts
Points: 9
Enrollment: 4,429
Net Price: $28,926
Endicott College is a liberal arts college is located on 235 acres just north of Boston, Massachusetts. It offers a wide range of study for aspiring artists. The School of Visual and Performing Arts provides a well-rounded fine arts curriculum that combines:
- theory
- practice
- history
- technology.
Endicott’s degree programs include, among others:
- art therapy
- graphic design
- interior design
- photography
- art education
- digital media
For those seeking to advance their BFA in interior design, this college offers a fifth-year MFA program for this study. Endicott has formed partnerships for exciting internship opportunities. All students are required to complete three courses of experiential learning over four years.
#15 – Columbus College of Art and Design
Columbus, Ohio
Points: 9
Enrollment: 1,288
Net Price: $25,945
Ohio’s Columbus College of Art and Design was founded in 1879. It’s a prestigious fine arts college perfect for aspiring BFA students seeking a more urban educational setting. From animation to photography to interior design, CCAD is certain to have a home for artists of almost any discipline. This institution is in close proximity to the famed Columbus Museum of Art for added exposure and inspiration. One of the most well-regarded offerings of this college is its highly selective, project-based MFA degree. It’s a uniquely individualized opportunity for advancing fine artists.
#14 – Knox College
Galesburg, Illinois
Points: 9
Enrollment: 1,399
Net Price: $23,642
Knox College in rural Illinois is a strong choice for students seeking a semester structure that allows for more focused study. This college employs a 3 semester a year calendar, each with only 3 courses. For the fine arts student, Knox offers a wide range of available majors, including:
- ceramics
- printmaking
- sculpture
- painting
- photography
Student artists may also take additional courses in:
- drawing
- design
- alternative media
Knox College raises over $350K annually, in part to sponsor independent fine arts projects.
#13 – Memphis College of Art
Memphis, Tennessee
Points: 9
Enrollment: 1,288
Net Price: $19,123
Memphis College of Art in Tennessee is a fine arts school that prides itself on intimate, individualized learning. MCA is able to achieve this approach through its student/faculty ratio of 10:1. The average class size is 17. This private art college has modern fine arts facilities and a diverse faculty of internationally recognized artists. 92% of them have terminal degrees in their field. To assist aspiring artists in their careers, MCA provides added training in:
- entrepreneurship
- communication
- networking
- self-promotion.
#12 – Reinhardt University
St. Waleska, Georgia
Points: 9
Enrollment: 1,422
Net Price: $17,934
The BFA degree at Reinhardt University is designed to implement a strong, disciplined foundation to the artist’s creativity. It’s located just outside Atlanta, Georgia. The small student body at Reinhardt benefits from both the peaceful country and buzz of the nearby city arts scene. RU offers BFA degrees in both fine art and digital art. Both of these options include specialties such as:
- drawing and painting
- sculpture and ceramics
- digital art
- photography
- print media
- web design
The University’s current $41.5 endowment affords extensive financial assistance for incoming students of all backgrounds.
#11 – Maine College of Art
Portland, Maine
Points: 10
Enrollment: 459
Net Price: $28,997
Maine College of Art is an affordable and well-respected BFA / MFA option. It was established in 1882 in the central arts scene in Portland, Maine. Incoming students first develop their foundational skills as artists. They are then free to focus on their choice of a wide range of art majors. Some of these marketable majors include:
- digital media
- graphic design
- illustration
- jewelry
- painting
- photography
- fashion
In addition to its own campus facilities, this small art college has an alliance that allows open access to resources in four other nearby colleges.
#10 – Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri
Points: 10
Enrollment: 660
Net Price: $28,098
Located in the cultural hub of the city, Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri is a celebrated and highly selective private art college. BFA students engage in a rigorous curriculum in a wide range of majors, including:
- animation
- interactive arts
- ceramics
- film-making
- art history
- graphic design, and more
KCAI offers various internship and extra credit opportunities for artists seeking to enhance their craft. This college also provides extensive career planning assistance to prepare fine art majors for their postgraduate future.
#9 – Flagler College
St. Augustine, Florida
Points: 10
Enrollment: 2,782
Net Price: $21,914
Flagler College prides itself on molding its fine arts students into well-rounded career artists. It has state-of-the-art facilities and a uniquely challenging curriculum. Current BA disciplines include:
- art history
- fine art
- graphic design
For a more competitive and intense degree track, BA students can apply for the highly selective BFA program. Flagler’s campus is home to a stunning gallery space, where both student art and the work of visiting recognized artists is exhibited regularly. This college is highly committed to its nearby community, hosting hundreds of richly cultural public events.
#8 – Alfred University
Alfred, New York
Points: 10
Enrollment: 2,310
Net Price: $20,306
Located in the scenic foothills of western New York’s Finger Lakes region, Alfred University’s School of Arts and Sciences has consistently ranked among the best BFA options for arts students. The University’s program encompasses fine art media including:
- ceramic art
- drawing
- painting
- photography
- expanded media
- sculpture
- art history
Alfred’s campus has:
- state-of-the-art galleries and facilities
- a 15:1 student/teacher ratio
- a wide range of fine arts student organizations
Over 98% of incoming students receive financial aid assistance, further making this arts college an affordable BFA opportunity.
#7 – Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Points: 11
Enrollment: 80
Net Price: $26,998
The prestigious Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts was founded in 1976. It’s an elite fine arts institution with an average total enrollment of 80 or fewer students. In 2014, the Academy’s arts resources were expanded due to a merge with the University of New Haven. Lyme Academy offers BFA degrees in disciplines that include:
- painting
- sculpture
- illustration and drawing
It has a student/faculty ratio of 14:1. This tight-knit artist community is a uniquely personalized learning environment in which to develop one’s artistic talents. 96% of BFA students receive aid in the forms of:
- federal
- scholarship
- grant
- merit-based
It’s an interesting option among small art colleges in New England.
#6 – Otterbein University
Westerville, Ohio
Points: 11
Enrollment: 2,791
Net Price: $26,200
Otterbein University is located on a rural campus in Ohio. It’s a great option for budding artists seeking a well-rounded degree in both fine arts and arts administration. Given its proximity to the city of Columbus, the college is able to provide internship and community outreach opportunities that enrich the BFA degree experience. The recently renovated Art and Communication Building is home to:
- three art galleries
- large studio spaces
- plenty of materials for multimedia design
- many more resources helpful to the growing art student.
#5 – Emory and Henry College
Emory, Virginia
Points: 11
Enrollment: 1,038
Net Price: $18,661
Emory and Henry College has a multitude of high-quality fine arts BA majors at an affordable tuition. It’s located on 335 acres in the Appalachian Highlands of Southwest Virginia. This college’s learning facilities are growing more advanced due to the major expansion of the Woodrow W. McGlothlin Center for the Arts. In this state-of-the-art complex, fine arts students will have:
- new gallery exhibition opportunities
- cross-disciplinary arts education
- upgraded learning facilities for optimum growth
Emory and Henry College further makes earning a BA accessible through several merit-based scholarships and need-based financial assistance. Alumni of this institution most often find fulfilling careers in:
- graphic design
- art education
- photography
- other media.
#4 – Laguna College of Art and Design
Laguna Beach, California
Points: 12
Enrollment: 566
Net Price: $26,980
Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) is a private fine arts college located on a beautiful beachside campus in California. It has a total enrollment under 600 students. This is a college committed to high admission standards for individualized learning. A BFA degree from LCAD has proven especially marketable for graphic and game arts. Graduates have regularly been recruited from top gaming companies including Walt Disney Animation and Microsoft. Additionally, executives from Nike have publicly recognized LCAD as being “one of four best design schools in the world.” A nice option among private art colleges on the West coast.
#3 – Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts
Points: 13
Enrollment: 402
Net Price: $25,141
Montserrat College of Art, located just north of Boston, Massachusetts, is a fine arts institution that molds its BFA students into disciplined career artists. This college’s curriculum combines:
- technical skill development
- intellectual awareness
- a critical understanding of art theory
BFA majors at this school include:
- animation
- book art
- graphic design
- interactive media
- printmaking, and more
Montserrat also offers international study programs in exciting locations including:
- Japan
- Spain
- Italy.
#2 – Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, New York
Points: 14
Enrollment: 2,469
Net Price: $25,275
Bard College is consistently ranked among the best liberal arts colleges by publications like Newsweek and Princeton Review. Its main campus is located in a rural town 90 miles north of New York City. However, Bard has an expansive learning network that continues to grow throughout the U.S. and abroad. All first-year students are required to engage in:
- the Language and Thinking Program
- First-Year Seminar
- Citizen Science
They then move forward to specialized study. This college’s art department BA degrees include:
- art history
- film and electronic arts
- various studio art disciplines
- photography.
#1 – Colby College
Waterville, Maine
Points: 14
Enrollment: 1,847
Net Price: $18,447
Colby College is located in scenic central Maine. It’s a small, diverse liberal arts college with an exciting BFA degree option. The fine arts department curriculum combines studio and art history courses, all designed to mold artists into critical thinkers. One of the campus highlights is the Colby College Museum of Art, a cultural institution that serves both student artists and the surrounding community. From the first day of class, students are invited to engage in independent research projects that are later presented in a college-wide symposium.
The preceding is a ranked list of 20 best deals on small art colleges with outstanding value.
Other articles of interest:
- 20 Deals: Small Colleges for Environmentally-minded
- 50 Best Deals on Competitive Small Colleges
- Top 50 Great Deals on Bachelor’s Degrees Online
By Tracy Eisenberg
Posted January 2016