by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Painting Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 646 people earned their degree in painting, making the major the 517th most popular in the United States.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Painting Major” ranking, we looked at 72 colleges that offer a degree in painting. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in painting.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Painting Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Painting Major”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Savannah College of Art and Design. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Savannah College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit institution located in Savannah, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 72 schools in the Most Well Attended Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Pratt Institute - Main landed the #2 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 48 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
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 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 72 schools in the Most Well Attended Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Boston University landed the #3 spot on the list. Boston University is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 38 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.
Out of the 72 schools in the Most Well Attended Painting Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Rhode Island School of Design landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 38 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
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 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Maryland Institute College of Art. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Maryland Institute College of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking, coming in at #6. This large school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 35 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #7, New York Academy of Art did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Located in New York, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 degrees to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 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 3.5% 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%.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Painting Major list. This small school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 27 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Purchase College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. Located in Purchase, New York, this small public school handed out 25 degrees to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.
University of Houston did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking, coming in at #10. UH is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.
With a ranking of #10, Kansas City Art Institute did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Kansas City Art Institute is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 21 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
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.
Temple University ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s painting degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
With a ranking of #14, SUNY New Paltz did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major list. This medium-sized school is located in New Paltz, New York, and it awarded 15 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. EAPD is a small public school situated in San Juan, . It awarded 13 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Painting at Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico
Cleveland Institute of Art landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.
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%. 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.
Read more about Painting at Minneapolis College of Art and Design
San Francisco Art Institute ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Pacific Northwest College of Art landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. This small school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 10 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Hartford came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in West Hartford, Connecticut, and it awarded 9 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Cranbrook Academy of Art landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. This small school is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 8 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
California College of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking, coming in at #22. Located in San Francisco, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.
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 4.2% 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%.
Maine College of Art came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. Maine College of Art is a small school located in Portland, Maine that handed out 7 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
American Academy of Art landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 7 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German is a private not-for-profit institution located in San German, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%.
Full Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San German Painting Report
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Painting Major list. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is a medium-sized school located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts that handed out 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth Painting Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Painting at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With a ranking of #25, Anderson University South Carolina did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major list. Anderson University South Carolina is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Anderson, South Carolina. It awarded 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Painting at Anderson University South Carolina
SUNY Fredonia landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking. SUNY Fredonia is a small school located in Fredonia, New York that handed out 6 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Montserrat College of Art did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Painting Major ranking, coming in at #25. Montserrat College of Art is located in Beverly, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
