Best Art and Design colleges in Virginia
Why a degree in arts and design?
Art & Design is tough. Really tough. It is a constant competition to design something better. It is "thinking outside the box" so many times you've decided to forget the box altogether. Not to mention you will become a master at thriving with little to no sleep and develop thick skin from enduring brutal critiques.
How to prepare for an arts and design degrees
So, why put yourself through this? Passion. When you put everything into a project and it’s ripped apart, you get more coffee, improve the design, and come back with an even greater masterpiece.
But if passion alone isn’t enough, how about this. Median salaries for the top 10 design careers surpassed $50,000*. Art & design jobs are also expected to increase by 7% over the next eight years*. With higher salaries than most majors and plenty of career avenues, art & design graduates are cashing in on their passions. Graduating from an art & design program is a difficult and competitive feat. But if you can do it, you will create a growing career where your computer battery is your only limit.
*PayScale Salary Survey data*Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Best Art and Design colleges in Virginia for 2021
Virginia Commonwealth University offers 14 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 516 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 499 Bachelor's degrees, and 17 Master's degrees.
George Mason University offers 12 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 320 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 219 Bachelor's degrees, 95 Master's degrees, 5 Doctoral degrees, and 1 Certificate.
James Madison University offers 6 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 179 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 156 Bachelor's degrees, 17 Master's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.
Put your creativity and eye for aesthetics to work—as an interior designer! TCC is currently the only college in southern Virginia where you can earn this degree. But that’s not to say it isn’t a competitive program with all the best resources. You’ll use professional drafting software like AutoCAD and Revit to design everything from comforting kitchens to inviting commercial office spaces. Students have several opportunities to be crafty in and out of the classroom. For example, you may get to participate in a design competition in Period Residential Design class. Students have produced living space designs inspired by all kinds of time periods, like Ancient Greek to Art Deco. Their work was then judged by a local industry professional, Ainslie Group’s Architect and Project Coordinator Ross Millard. It’s an awesome opportunity to practice designing for a real-world client. During spring semester, students take the Pallet Challenge. As a participant you’ll have one week to repurpose a wood pallet into a decorative or functional piece. Students have built fashionable lamps, a Zen garden, and even a portable office space. You’ll also get to make one-of-a-kind pieces for the annual silent auction. In 2013, auction proceeds were used to decorate four disabled veterans’ homes for the holidays. Make a difference, build your portfolio, and expand your creative boundaries in just two years at TCC.
University of Virginia-Main Campus offers 5 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2019, 80 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 61 Bachelor's degrees, 13 Master's degrees, and 6 Doctoral degrees.
Liberty University offers 27 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 254 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 201 Bachelor's degrees, 49 Master's degrees, and 4 Certificates.
Hollins University offers 9 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2019, 63 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 36 Master's degrees, and 27 Bachelor's degrees.
Radford University offers 9 Art and Design degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2019, 67 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 56 Bachelor's degrees, 6 Certificates, and 5 Master's degrees.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers 4 Art and Design degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 89 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 84 Bachelor's degrees, and 5 Master's degrees.
University of Richmond offers 5 Art and Design degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2019, 12 Art and Design students graduated with students earning 12 Bachelor's degrees.
List of all Art and Design colleges in Virginia
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shenandoah University Winchester, VA | 14 : 1 | 3,791 | |
|
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA | 23 : 1 | 29,757 | |
|
George Mason University Fairfax, VA | 27 : 1 | 37,863 | |
|
James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA | 20 : 1 | 21,820 | |
|
Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA | 66 : 1 | 19,064 | |
|
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | 16 : 1 | 25,012 | |
|
Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | 83 : 1 | 85,586 | |
|
Stratford University Fairfax, VA | 35 : 1 | 2,373 | |
|
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA | 124 : 1 | 248 | |
|
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA | 81 : 1 | 51,822 | |
|
John Tyler Community College Chester, VA | 89 : 1 | 10,152 | |
|
Hollins University Roanoke, VA | 9 : 1 | 798 | |
|
Marymount University Arlington, VA | 20 : 1 | 3,363 | |
|
Radford University Radford, VA | 22 : 1 | 11,870 | |
|
ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA | 32 : 1 | 13,487 | |
|
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | 18 : 1 | 36,383 | |
|
Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA | 17 : 1 | 4,919 | |
|
University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | 9 : 1 | 3,914 | |
|
Regent University Virginia Beach, VA | 75 : 1 | 10,365 | |
|
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA | 75 : 1 | 8,711 | |