Click on a college below for a link to their website. Note, this is a limited list to get you started; there are many other options out there worth researching!

CLOSER TO CHICAGO

College for Creative Studies Detroit, MI

Columbia College Chicago, IL

Iowa State University Ames, IA   We do not require or expect anyone entering our programming to have any prior knowledge in the field they are looking to pursue to enter and progress through it. So no matter what a student's art and design background (whether years of experience or none at all) is they can enter and be successful through our programming as long as they put in the effort and energy to grow and improve as an artist.

Illinois State University Normal, IL   The Wonsook Kim School of Art community allows you to study, work and grow alongside inspired students who share a similar passion for making art and thinking critically about their endeavors. Whether you transfer in, or start here as a freshman art major, our faculty members work hard to help you develop into the artist, designer, teacher, or art historian you aspire to become.

Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL

Kendall College of Art & Design Gran Rapids, MI At KCAD, we transform creativity into career opportunities with 11 specialized undergraduate programs in art history, fine arts, and design. Our students graduate with 21st century skills, industry connections, and a strong creative portfolio that will propel them forward into the future. We offer all the advantages of a conservatory college of art and design – creative immersion, expert faculty, and personalized instruction – without sacrificing the vital support systems and educational value of a state university, and with no out of state tuition rates, KCAD offers an excellent and affordable choice for students looking for new experiences a bit further away from home.

MIAD Milwaukee, WI MIAD's curriculum is designed to ignite your mind and launch your career through hands-on professional opportunities. Our majors include Illustration, Animation Track, Interior Architecture and Design, Product Design, Fine Arts: New Studio Practice, and Fashion and Apparel Design. It is free to apply to MIAD, and 100% of accepted students receive a merit scholarship. Start your application at www.miad.edu/applynow

Milliken University Decatur, IL  The School of Art and Creative Media at Millikin University is a home for artists, makers, storytellers, publishers, and arts entrepreneurs. We offer career driven programs in art such as art therapy, arts technology, arts administration, graphic design, art education, multimedia communication, and more. Students are engaged in one of our 7 different student run arts business classes learning what it takes to not just provide artistic services or make art and films but are engaged in selling it to real audiences, making media for real clients, and earning money in the classroom.

Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL NIU School of Art and Design offers 14 different art based programs. We believe in accessibility in the arts and that is why we give out over $150,000 in art scholarships every year.

Kendall College of Art & Design Gran Rapids, MI   At KCAD, we transform creativity into career opportunities with 11 specialized undergraduate programs in art history, fine arts, and design. Our students graduate with 21st century skills, industry connections, and a strong creative portfolio that will propel them forward into the future. We offer all the advantages of a conservatory college of art and design – creative immersion, expert faculty, and personalized instruction – without sacrificing the vital support systems and educational value of a state university, and with no out of state tuition rates, KCAD offers an excellent and affordable choice for students looking for new experiences a bit further away from home.

SAIC Chicago, IL The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is an interdisciplinary institution that does not offer majors. Instead students are encourage to explore, experiment, and collaborate among the 18 different departments and 22 areas of study the school has to build an education and curriculum that is truly unique to who they are.

Western Illinois University Macomb, IL

Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI      The Gwen Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University has a private visual arts college feel with all the opportunities of a University. We have diverse programs, a Fine Arts specific residence hall, 24/7 studio swipe-access for majors, and access to the robust visual arts community in Kalamazoo - yes, there is a Kalamazoo!

FURTHER FROM CHICAGO

Boston University Boston, MA

CalArts Valencia, CA

Cleveland Institute of Art Cleveland, OH

MICA Baltimore, MD

OTIS College of Art & Design Los Angeles, CA

Pratt New York, NY

RISD Providence, RI We are a community of critical thinkers and makers who share a belief in the value of hands-on learning, experimentation and an ever-evolving approach to studio education reinforced by liberal arts studies. All undergraduate students at RISD take first-year studios in Experimental and Foundation Studies, followed by a major course of study in a specific fine arts or design discipline beginning sophomore year.

SCAD Savannah, GA