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2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major

66 Ranked Colleges
492 Degrees Awarded
$34,700 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Painting Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Painting is the 517th most popular major in the country with 643 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 492 painting graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major” ranking analyzed 66 colleges that offered a degree in painting. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their painting program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Painting Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Painting

1
PAFA crest
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. PAFA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full PAFA Painting Report

2
The Academy crest
American Academy of Art
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Academy of Art. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Painting at American Academy of Art

3
4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major. Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico is a small public school situated in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It awarded 13 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Painting at EAPD

5
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas City Art Institute. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 22 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Kansas City Art Institute Painting Report

6
Montserrat College of Art crest
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts

Montserrat College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #6. Montserrat College of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Beverly, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at Montserrat College of Art

7

Cleveland Institute of Art landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. This small school is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Cleveland Institute of Art

8

Pacific Northwest College of Art came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a small school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 13 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Painting at Pacific Northwest College of Art

9

Minneapolis College of Art and Design came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. MCAD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 11 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Painting at MCAD

10
Maine College of Art crest
Maine College of Art
Portland, Maine

Maine College of Art ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. This small school is located in Portland, Maine, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Maine College of Art

11

Massachusetts College of Art and Design came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this small public school awarded 28 degrees to qualified bachelors’s painting students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Painting Report

12
RISD crest
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, Rhode Island

Rhode Island School of Design ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full RISD Painting Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Maryland Institute College of Art did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Maryland Institute College of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 26 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at Maryland Institute College of Art

14

Art Academy of Cincinnati came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. AAC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at AAC

15
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

With a ranking of #15, Pratt Institute - Main did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 28 degrees to qualified bachelors’s painting students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Painting at Pratt Institute - Main

16
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Purchase College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Purchase College is located in Purchase, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 34 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Purchase College

17
California College of the Arts crest
California College of the Arts
San Francisco, California

California College of the Arts landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. California College of the Arts is a small private not-for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 14 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at California College of the Arts

18

Savannah College of Art and Design came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. SCAD is located in Savannah, Georgia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 37 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at Savannah College of Art and Design

19
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri

College of the Ozarks did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking, coming in at #19. College of the Ozarks is a small school located in Point Lookout, Missouri that handed out 2 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

Full College of the Ozarks Painting Report

20
Franklin College of Indiana crest
Franklin College
Franklin, Indiana

Franklin College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Located in Franklin, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s painting students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Franklin College

21
Anderson University South Carolina crest
Anderson University South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina

With a ranking of #21, Anderson University South Carolina did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Anderson University South Carolina is located in Anderson, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Anderson University South Carolina Painting Report

22

Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German is a small school located in San German, Puerto Rico that handed out 4 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German Painting Report

23
SUNY New Paltz crest
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, New York

SUNY New Paltz landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. SUNY New Paltz is a medium-sized public school situated in New Paltz, New York. It awarded 9 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SUNY New Paltz Painting Report

24
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major list. Fredonia, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SUNY Fredonia Painting Report

25
Arcadia crest
Arcadia University
Glenside, Pennsylvania

Arcadia University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Painting Major ranking. Arcadia University is located in Glenside, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Painting at Arcadia

Notes and References

References

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