27 Best Private PhD Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in the USA

Compare 118 programs at 27 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

Programs 118 Universities 27 Scholarships 0

27 universities · ranked best first

how we rank

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, Missouri · Private University · Est. 1853

US #1 QS World #123 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $21,786/yr
Admission rate: 12%
Earnings (10yr): $86,182
Students: 7,857

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Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, Ohio · Private University · Est. 1967

US #3 QS World #174 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $41,190/yr
Admission rate: 37%
Earnings (10yr): $87,989
Students: 6,437

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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Troy, New York · Private University · Est. 1824

US #11 QS World #350 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $36,228/yr
Admission rate: 63%
Earnings (10yr): $102,051
Students: 5,714

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Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana · Private University · Est. 1834

US #16 QS World #461 ROI B Admissions open

Net price: $39,949/yr
Admission rate: 14%
Earnings (10yr): $63,268
Students: 7,767

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University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California · Private University · Est. 1880

US #51 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $32,740/yr
Admission rate: 10%
Earnings (10yr): $92,498
Students: 20,443

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University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1740

US #56 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $28,699/yr
Admission rate: 5%
Earnings (10yr): $111,371
Students: 10,650

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Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York · Private University · Est. 1754

US #58 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $21,590/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $102,491
Students: 8,973

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Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1851

US #60 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $29,167/yr
Admission rate: 8%
Earnings (10yr): $89,363
Students: 9,201

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New York University

New York, New York · Private University · Est. 1831

US #61 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $37,050/yr
Admission rate: 9%
Earnings (10yr): $82,509
Students: 28,663

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Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1869

US #68 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $24,402/yr
Admission rate: 11%
Earnings (10yr): $83,238
Students: 18,248

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Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1636

US #74 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $19,066/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $101,817
Students: 7,601

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Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut · Private University · Est. 1701

US #89 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $23,777/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $100,533
Students: 6,758

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Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland · Private University · Est. 1876

US #93 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $18,809/yr
Admission rate: 6%
Earnings (10yr): $87,555
Students: 5,693

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Cornell University

Ithaca, New York · Private University · Est. 1865

US #98 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $28,690/yr
Admission rate: 9%
Earnings (10yr): $104,043
Students: 15,995

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University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1890

US #114 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $14,860/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $91,885
Students: 7,569

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Duke University

Durham, North Carolina · Private University · Est. 1838

US #129 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $29,612/yr
Admission rate: 6%
Earnings (10yr): $97,800
Students: 6,442

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Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1900

US #151 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $31,944/yr
Admission rate: 12%
Earnings (10yr): $114,862
Students: 7,304

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Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island · Private University · Est. 1765

US #196 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $25,184/yr
Admission rate: 5%
Earnings (10yr): $93,487
Students: 7,226

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Stanford University

Stanford, California · Private University · Est. 1885

US #198 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $13,807/yr
Admission rate: 4%
Earnings (10yr): $124,080
Students: 7,554

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Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas · Private University · Est. 1911

US #204 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $40,892/yr
Admission rate: 63%
Earnings (10yr): $78,354
Students: 7,277

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Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia · Private University · Est. 1836

US #263 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $22,585/yr
Admission rate: 11%
Earnings (10yr): $80,137
Students: 7,298

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Rice University

Houston, Texas · Private University · Est. 1891

US #297 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $13,370/yr
Admission rate: 8%
Earnings (10yr): $89,718
Students: 4,776

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Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago, Illinois · Private University · Est. 1940

US #302 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $18,425/yr
Admission rate: 55%
Earnings (10yr): $82,592
Students: 2,833

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Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey · Private University · Est. 1746

US #369 ROI A Admissions open

Net price: $6,128/yr
Admission rate: 5%
Earnings (10yr): $110,066
Students: 5,709

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What this subject pays

Graduates of Arts, Design & Architecture programmes report a median $33,459 two years after finishing, across 456 programmes that publish the figure , against median debt of $26,125.

Arts, Design & Architecture pay by degree level →

Arts, Design & Architecture at other levels

Associate's Arts, Design & Architecture Bachelor's Arts, Design & Architecture Diploma Arts, Design & Architecture Master's Arts, Design & Architecture Professional Arts, Design & Architecture

By university type

All Arts, Design & Architecture universities Public Arts, Design & Architecture universities

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Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for private PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include Washington University in St Louis, Case Western Reserve University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study private PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying private PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About private PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA

This page lists private PhD Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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