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893 Best Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in the United States

Stanford University leads the 893 Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the United States at #3 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come Harvard University (QS World #5) and Cornell University (QS World #13). The universities on this list offer 2,669 matching courses between them.

893 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
124Ranked
SA School of the Art Institute of Chicago logo
#332 in United States United States

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Public University · 12 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

All 12 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#332 in United States · by research impact
1,273,655 citations · h-index 422
127Ranked
BG Bowling Green State University logo
#343 in United States United States

Bowling Green State University

Public University · 11 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

All 11 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#343 in United States · by research impact
1,171,634 citations · h-index 359
130Ranked
CU Clark University logo
#352 in United States United States

Clark University

Public University · 5 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

All 5 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#352 in United States · by research impact
970,468 citations · h-index 385
132Ranked
JC Jefferson College logo
#362 in United States United States

Jefferson College

Public University · 1 course in Arts, Design & Architecture

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#362 in United States · by research impact
916,160 citations · h-index 309
135Ranked
KP Kenai Peninsula College logo
#370 in United States United States

Kenai Peninsula College

Public University · 1 course in Arts, Design & Architecture

Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#370 in United States · by research impact
849,131 citations · h-index 315
140Ranked
HS Humboldt State University logo
#384 in United States United States

Humboldt State University

Public University · 22 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

All 22 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#384 in United States · by research impact
800,217 citations · h-index 307

Related subjects

How these universities are ranked

60 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #3 (Stanford University) to #593 (University of Central Florida); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. Harvard University has the largest research record in this group, with 146,463,495 citations and an h-index of 2,807. 34 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 884 public to 9 private institutions. By location, New York (5), Massachusetts (4) and Texas (3) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Harvard University, founded in 1636. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 1,659 bachelor's, 241 master's, 143 diploma and 45 professional. Within the subject, the largest areas are Arts, Design & Architecture (2,579), Fine Arts (53), Multimedia Design (8) and Fashion Design (7). The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 98% are full-time and 51 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (99% of courses with a stated intake). Pratt Institute offers the widest choice, with 83 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 33 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and Columbia University the most at USD 66,000; the middle of the range is about USD 22,326. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?

Stanford University (QS World #3), Harvard University (QS World #5) and Cornell University (QS World #13) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?

Of those with published fees, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at about USD 5,274 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.

How many public universities offer Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?

884 public and 9 private universities are on this list.

How long does an Arts, Design & Architecture course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do Arts, Design & Architecture courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Arts, Design & Architecture online with a university in the United States?

51 of these courses are listed as online.

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