623 Best Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in the United States
Of the 623 Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the United States, Harvard University ranks highest at #5 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Cornell University (QS World #13) and University of Chicago (QS World #13). Across the whole list there are 1,659 courses to choose from.
623 universities · ranked best first
how we rankArts, Design & Architecture at other levels
Related subjects
By university type
How these universities are ranked
46 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #5 (Harvard University) to #593 (University of Central Florida); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Harvard University is cited most (146,463,495 citations). 16 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
618 are public and 5 private (99% public). By location, Massachusetts (4), New York (4) and Florida (2) 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.
Levels, lengths and start dates
Within the subject, the largest areas are Arts, Design & Architecture (1,589), Fine Arts (36), Multimedia Design (8) and Graphic Design (6). The usual length is 4 years and null. 98% are full-time and 25 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). Pratt Institute offers the widest choice, with 27 of these courses.
What it costs
We hold indicative fees for 26 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 34,783. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top universities for Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?
Harvard University (QS World #5), Cornell University (QS World #13) and University of Chicago (QS World #13) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.
Which is the cheapest university for Bachelor's 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 Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?
618 public and 5 private universities are on this list.
How long does a Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture course take in the United States?
Most listed courses run 4 years, with null the next most common.
When do Bachelor's 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 Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture online with a university in the United States?
25 of these courses are listed as online.
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