Art and Design University Rankings 2012

If you’re pursing a more specialized education, such as one focusing on art and design, general college rankings may not help you much. Instead, it is important to look for lists that specifically review art schools. There are a number of sources you can use to learn more about schools in this subject area, no matter what type of fine arts program interests you most.

US News Rankings

Every year, US News and World Report releases their list of the best colleges found in the United States. This is one of the most prominent and trusted rankings available. However, many students and their families do not realize that they have lists beyond their general rankings, and these special lists focus on specific types of schools or programs. You should check out the Fine Arts rankings that this publication provides, as it can help you learn more about all of the school available for this type of education. US News ranks schools according to factors like class size, faculty degrees and salaries, acceptance rate, peer review, standardized test scores of students, alumni donation statistics, average spending per student, and more.

PhDs.org Rankings

If you’re already an art school student in an undergraduate degree program, you can use PhDs.org to look at graduate schools in arts and design programs. This tanking system is interesting in that you get to compile a list unique to use based on parameters you determine on their website. You can prioritize schools based on whether factors like faculty awards, job placement after graduation, fellowships available, certain student demographics, acceptance rate, and more are important to you.

DesignIntelligence’s America’s Best Architecture & Design Schools

This list allows you to search for the best schools in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and industrial design. DesignIntelligence’s list isn’t free, but their books review the top schools historically, introduce students to design schools that are typically under the radar, talk about the most influential professors in each field, survey students who are attending these schools, and provide articles to help students interested in these fields get into school and make educational and career path decisions.

As a student interested in the arts, these and other rankings can come in handy to help you learn more about the colleges that have caught your eye. However, keep in mind that the top college on a ranking isn’t necessarily the best school for you. Visit as many campuses as possible to check out their studios, galleries, and more. You can also talk to current students and professors to learn more about programs that interest you. In addition, keep in mind that many liberal arts colleges offer great art programs along with a more rounded education, so you should consider these programs as well as school that focus only on the arts.

The Top Online Universities in America

The Internet has revolutionized education so that now you can earn a degree entirely online from the comfort of your home. This is perfect for working professionals or anyone who wants to get ahead in a career without having to go to a physical campus everyday. Use the list of top schools below or the search form to find the right school for you.

	The University of Phoenix is world-renowned for being the largest online university. Phoenix boasts dozens of different degrees at all levels that students can choose from. In the last four years alone, the university produced 80,000 graduates in high-demand fields as nursing, health care, teaching and IT. In addition to its online access, the school has campus locations within 10 miles of 87 million Americans. Learn More About University of Phoenix
	In addition to a host of options for students needing to transfer existing bachelor's and master's coursework into one of its more-than three dozen degree programs, Post University also welcomes military personnel to join its student body. Post offers detailed opportunities for veterans, those participating in active duty, as well as military dependent students. Learn More About Post University
	Kaplan is organized into ten different academic schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, IS & Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Continuing Education, and Concord Law School. All told, Kaplan offers more than 125 degrees and programs both off- and online, with more than 70 campus-based locations nationwide. Learn More About Kaplan University
	Ashford is a private liberal arts university based in Clinton, Iowa. But thanks to the World Wide Web, students from all over the world can access their online coursework. Originally founded in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, Ashford has Catholic roots and today its NAIA-level athletic teams are known as The Saints, which compete in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in over a dozen sports. Learn More About Ashford University
	Liberty University has the reputation of being the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation. Founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, Liberty's original name was Lynchburg Baptist College. Liberty obtained university status in 1984. In athletics, Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference for 18 sports, including football, hockey, and basketball. Academically, Liberty offers majors in over 70 subjects, including aeronautics, business, nursing, and more. Learn More About Liberty University
	For students looking for flexible and affordable online education, Walden University offers both. As a leading accredited online university for more than 40 years, Walden has more than 42,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nearly 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied with their university, and would be likely to recommend Walden to others. Learn More About Walden University
	DeVry has dozens of campuses nationwide and delivers its coursework via the Web to thousands of online students studying for their degrees. At DeVry University, all degree programs are career-focused to ensure that proper training is given to students pursuing a specific job or career path. Learn More About DeVry University
	American InterContinental University, also known as AIU, is a private school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970 as the American College of Applied Arts, AIU today has seven campuses in the US and UK and runs its online program out of its Chicago offices. AIU offers degree programs in several subjects, including healthcare, business, education, criminal justice, and more. Learn More About American InterContinental University
	Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the oldest and most trusted universities that offers online education. At Boston Online, students can study liberal arts, business, science, criminal justice, health, music, nursing, and more to become well-rounded and productive individuals. Moreover, online programs offer a better sense of flexibility and convenience. Learn More About Boston University
	Capella University was founded in 1991 by Stephen Shank, the former CEO of Tonka, who felt that working adults were underserved by traditional brick-and-mortar universities. While their offices are located in downtown Minneapolis, being an online university, the majority of learning takes place outside of campus and instead via the Internet. Their motto: "Knowledge is solving problems no one else can." Learn More About Capella University
	In 1892, S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College. Today, this is known as Strayer University and has over 70 non-residential campuses with more than 50,000 students nationwide. Strayer is highly regarded as producing as many students with computer science degrees as any other school in the country. Learn More About Strayer University
	Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, an Arizona Southern Baptist school. (It reached university status in 1989.) Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, GCU is typically featured among the Top 10 online colleges as ranked by The Online Education Database (OEDb). Learn More About Grand Canyon University