Ah, California: the land of opportunity. The sun is always shining (well, not in San Francisco, but almost everywhere else!), and the art scene is awesome. If you're thinking about art school, some of the best colleges for you are located in the Golden State. In this article, I'll give you a list of all the art schools in California so you can take stock of your options.
What Is an Art School and What's Included on This List?
Most colleges have art departments, so you'll likely have the option of majoring in art no matter where you go.
For this list, however, I've only included colleges that are exclusively for art students. You should consider these types of schools if you're absolutely sure you want to major in an artistic discipline and would like to be in an environment that'll provide you with a high level of specialized training.
Art schools give students the opportunity to interact with many other individuals who share their artistic passions. By contrast, at less specialized schools, art departments might suffer from neglect since they represent a less popular major choice.
Note that I did include some schools on this list that are technically subsets of bigger universities because they're autonomous enough to be considered art schools in their own right (though you would have to apply to the larger college to get in).
All the schools on this list are completely devoted to the education of art students and are chock-full of creative resources you might not find at other colleges.
There's nothing more exciting than new art supplies. Imagine going to a college that's full of them!
Complete List of Art Schools in California
Below, I've listed all the art schools in California, accompanied by statistics (mainly from US News and Niche) and descriptions of what they offer to students.
I'll go through the five best art schools first, followed by an alphabetical list of all other art schools in the state. I included pictures of some of the campuses, but you should definitely check out the school websites for more images and information!
Top 5 Art Schools in California
These five California art schools are world-class institutions, with excellent programs in a range of artistic disciplines.
ArtCenter College of Design — Pasadena
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,737
Admissions Rate: 71%
Programs: Advertising, Entertainment Design, Environmental Design, Film, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interaction Design, Photography and Imaging, Product Design, Transportation Design
At ArtCenter, students receive a comprehensive education in their chosen disciplines beginning on day one. There is no first-year general education program, so this school is ideal for students who know exactly what they want to study.
The interdisciplinary program allows students to work across different majors, thereby preventing the school's focus on specialization from limiting students' creativity. ArtCenter also partners with companies and organizations via its Designmatters program, which sponsors student projects that impact social change.
ArtCenter College of Design
California College of the Arts — San Francisco
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,600
Admissions Rate: 85%
Programs: Animation, Architecture, Fashion Design, Film, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Painting and Drawing, Photography, Textiles, Sculpture, and many more.
One-on-one attention is the norm for students at the California College of the Arts (the average student-teacher ratio is 8:1, and 97% of classes have fewer than 20 students).
CCA includes a First Year Program that introduces students to studio practice and includes a portfolio review at the end of the year. In addition, there's a First Year Student Exhibition every year. Finally, CCA offers numerous resources for professional development and networking in the arts that will help students embark on fulfilling careers.
California Institute of the Arts — Valencia
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,011
Admissions Rate: 25%
Programs: Acting, Art, Graphic Design, Costume Design, Photography and Media, Animation, Film and Video, and many more.
Every student at CalArts is assigned a mentor who guides them through the program and assists them in independent study. CalArts has eight galleries dedicated to exhibiting student work and helping students get accustomed to hanging and presenting art in various forms.
The school also houses several facilities for student use, including various media labs and a "Super Shop" for processes such as woodworking, metalworking, and moldmaking.
California Institute of the Arts
Otis College of Art and Design — Los Angeles
Total Enrollment: 1,125
Admissions Rate: 78%
Programs: Animation; Architecture, Landscape, Interiors; Communication Arts; Costume Design; Digital Media; Fashion Design; Fine Arts; Game & Entertainment Design; and many more.
Otis has been ranked among the best design schools in the US, with particular distinction in its fashion and animation programs. A strong advising and career counseling system guides Otis students to success in their respective creative fields. Students intern at art galleries, museums, and creative companies such as LEGO and Nike.
Alumni and faculty at Otis include Fulbright, MacArthur, and Guggenheim grant recipients, Oscar winners, legendary costume designers, leaders of contemporary art movements, entrepreneurs, and top designers.
If you're curious about how to get started learning about design in addition to art, you can read about the principles of design here!
Otis College of Art and Design
UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture — Los Angeles
Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,600 (UCLA overall)
Admissions Rate: 12% (UCLA overall)
Programs: Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design Media Arts, World Arts and Cultures/Dance, Visual and Performing Arts
UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture is composed of five degree-granting departments (listed above) and seven research centers: Art & Global Health Center, Art|Sci Center, cityLAB, Experiential Technologies Center, Game Lab, Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts, and xLAB.
This school incorporates a wide variety of outreach programs designed by students, faculty, staff and alumni; these center around concerts, exhibitions, symposia, and dance productions, which are presented in cooperation with groups throughout Los Angeles.
UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture
Other Art Schools in California
If the schools above don't fit your needs, check out the rest of this list of art schools in California. There's bound to be one with the perfect program for you!
Academy of Art University — San Francisco
Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,758
Admissions Rate: 100% (open admissions)
Programs: Animation and Visual Effects, Architecture, Fashion, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography, Web Design and New Media, and many more
Academy of Art University is a for-profit school that hosts more than 70 student and alumni art shows in San Francisco annually, so there are plenty of opportunities to exhibit your work. It's also the first art university to be invited to showcase student work at New York Fashion Week biannually.
Students have access to many different facilities for art-making, including lighting equipment, studio space, and green-screen rooms. Moreover, the school's location in San Francisco means that there are several opportunities to connect with creative internships and working artists.
Academy of Art University
Design Institute of San Diego — San Diego
Undergraduate Enrollment: 121
Admissions Rate: 87%
Programs: Interior Design
The Design Institute is a highly specialized college for students interested in studying interior design. Both the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and International Interior Design Association (IIDA) sponsor student activities here. Students gain extensive insight into professional standards and practices through contact with working interior designers.
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising — Los Angeles
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1984
Admissions Rate: 36%
Programs: Apparel Technical Design, Creative Industry Studies, Design, Digital Media, Fashion Knitwear Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, and more.
A for-profit California art school, FIDM specializes in fashion design but also offers majors in an array of other artistic fields, including graphic design and interior design. While the main campus is in Los Angeles, other campuses can be found in San Francisco, San Diego, and Orange County.
The Institute is highly career-focused and offers students the opportunity to collaborate on school projects with famous companies, such as Nike, Athleta, and TOMS. Internships and part-time work also play a major role in the curriculum.
Interior Designers Institute — Newport Beach
Undergraduate Enrollment: 61
Admissions Rate: 100% (open admissions)
Programs: Interior Design
This is another school that exclusively offers an interior design program. Students from this school have been recognized in international design competitions. Additionally, undergraduates can participate in the Institute's internship program, which allows them to gain experience working for design firms while still in college.
Laguna College of Art and Design — Laguna Beach
Undergraduate Enrollment: 693
Admissions Rate: 81%
Programs: Animation, Drawing and Painting, Experimental Animation, Extended Reality Design (XRD), Game Art, Graphic Design and Digital Media, Illustration, Illustration in Entertainment Design
The Laguna College of Art and Design offers an extensive foundation program for first-year students that provides thorough preparation for success in their chosen fields. LCAD has grown over time to include the eight undergraduate majors listed above, as well as a graduate department.
The campus is only about an hour from Los Angeles, so students have easy access to museums, galleries, the entertainment industry, graphic design studios, and much more.
NewSchool of Architecture & Design — San Diego
Undergraduate Enrollment: 348
Admissions Rate: 98%
Programs: Architecture, Product Design, Interior Architecture & Design, Graphic Design & Interactive Media
Located in the design district of downtown San Diego, the NewSchool of Architecture and Design focuses on networking and learning to navigate an increasingly globalized design world.
Students have access to unique study abroad programs, a diverse international student body, cross-location collaborations, flexible online learning, and world-renowned guest lecturers. In addition, the NewSchool has an 92% job placement rate for graduating students.
NewSchool of Architecture & Design
SAE Expression College — Emeryville
Undergraduate Enrollment: Not Reported
Admissions Rate: Not Reported
Programs: Audio, Digital Film, Game Development, Entertainment Business, Animation & Visual Effects
The goal of Expression College, a for-profit school, is to prepare students for careers in the industries of sound and visual arts with a hands-on curriculum. Students here can earn a bachelor's degree in just under three years with Expression's accelerated schedule.
San Diego State University College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts — San Diego
Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,086 (SDSU overall)
Admissions Rate: 34% (SDSU overall)
Programs: Applied Design; Graphic Design; Interior Architecture; Multimedia and Photography; Painting and Printmaking; Sculpture; Studio Arts; Music; Dance; Theatre; Television, Film, and New Media
SDSU's College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts (PSFA) is recognized for connecting the college experience with the global community and for preparing its students for professional careers. On average, PSFA places over 700 students in professional internships each year.
San Francisco Art Institute — San Francisco
Undergraduate Enrollment: 207
Admissions Rate: 90%
Programs: Art and Technology, Film, History and Theory of Contemporary Art, New Genres, Painting, and more
Founded in 1871, the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) is one of the nation's oldest schools of higher education in contemporary art. Its core philosophy is fostering creativity and critical thinking in an open, experimental, and interdisciplinary environment. Students here are encouraged to forge their own pathways of study and supplement the Core Curriculum with electives across different mediums and fields.
San Francisco Art Institute
UC Davis Art Studio — Davis
Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,162 (UC Davis overall)
Admissions Rate: 39% (UC Davis overall)
Programs: Studio Art (Ceramics; Photography; Drawing, Painting, Printmaking; Sculpture; Time-Based Media)
Part of the Department of Art and Art History, the UC Davis Art Studio focuses exclusively on fine arts. Students have access to Basement Gallery, an undergraduate-run exhibition space that displays student work, in addition to the Advanced Undergraduate Studio Space where students can reserve a space to work independently. Finally, the Visiting Artist Lecture Series gives students insight into what kinds of projects professional artists are currently working on.
UC Irvine Claire Trevor School of the Arts — Irvine
Undergraduate Enrollment: 29,638 (UC Irvine overall)
Admissions Rate: 27% (UC Irvine overall)
Programs: Art, Dance, Choreography, Dance Performance, Drama, Music, Music Theatre, Music Performance
Facilities at UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts include six theaters; a concert hall; three art galleries; the Beall Center for Art + Technology; electronic music studios; cutting-edge costume, lighting, and scenic design studios; a stage production shop; digital arts labs; and a video production studio.
Undergraduate and graduate degree courses include extensive studio, workshop, and performance experiences; theoretical and historical studies; and arts and technology practices.
Woodbury University School of Media, Culture & Design — Burbank and San Diego
Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,020 (Woodbury overall)
Admissions Rate: 66% (Woodbury overall)
Programs: Animation, Fashion Design, Filmmaking, Game Art & Design, Graphic Design, and more.
The School of Media, Culture, and Design at Woodbury focuses on a cross-disciplinary approach to art. Classes are paired in order to bring multiple perspectives to bear on the same design problem. Advanced seminars, which incorporate multiple majors, allow students to work together on outside projects or competitions.
How to Find the Right Art School for You
If you're looking exclusively at art schools, you've already narrowed down your choices for college quite a bit. However, it's still important to weigh your options carefully.
First, think about location. While all of these schools are located in California, some of them are in urban areas, whereas others are in more suburban or even rural areas. Find out more about what these different types of environments offer to students.
You should also look closely at the program offerings at these art schools. Is there a specific artistic field that interests you, or are you still unsure about the exact medium you want to study?
If you're undecided, consider attending a school that has a general education program so you can explore different modes of artistic expression before deciding on a major. If you're sure about what you want to study, make sure that the schools you apply to have the facilities and programs you'll need to fulfill your creative vision.
Especially at art schools, a good career services department and plenty of opportunities for internships are a must. Verify that the schools that interest you have a high job placement rate and offer extensive career counseling to students. Also, art schools can be expensive: make sure you're looking for art scholarships before you apply.
You should also look for colleges that have strong advisory systems and give students lots of individualized attention. These qualities will make for a smooth transition from college to the professional art world.
Now get out there and start making some awesome art!
What's Next?
Want to brush up on your contour line art? Review the four key steps to drawing contour lines here.
If you're planning to attend an art school, you'll need to make a portfolio of your work. Find out how to showcase your art in the best way possible for college applications.
More interested in performing arts than you are visual arts? Then check out this complete list of all the performing arts colleges in California.
Worried about how your test scores will affect your chances of college admission? Learn more about when SAT and ACT scores don't matter in the application process.
