TopUniversitiesUSA

41 Best Private Professional Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in the USA

Compare 196 programs at 41 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

41 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1
UM University of Miami logo

University of Miami

Coral Gables, Florida · Private University · Est. 1925

US #8 QS World #250 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$37,244/yr
Admission rate
19%
Earnings (10yr)
$75,328
Students
12,913
2
TU Tufts University logo

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1852

US #9 QS World #251 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$39,998/yr
Admission rate
11%
Earnings (10yr)
$83,214
Students
7,061
3
DU Drexel University logo

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1891

US #25 QS World #601 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$38,509/yr
Admission rate
79%
Earnings (10yr)
$84,648
Students
13,233
4
SI Stevens Institute of Technology logo

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, New Jersey · Private University · Est. 1870

US #36 QS World #701 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$41,346/yr
Admission rate
48%
Earnings (10yr)
$108,772
Students
4,222
5
SA Southern Adventist University logo

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee · Private University · Est. 1892

US #43 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$24,345/yr
Admission rate
66%
Earnings (10yr)
$53,723
Students
2,773
6
US University of Southern California logo

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
7
UP University of Pennsylvania logo

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
9
HU Harvard University logo

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
10
GW George Washington University logo

George Washington University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private University · Est. 1821

US #77 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$36,586/yr
Admission rate
47%
Earnings (10yr)
$90,873
Students
11,182
11
YU Yale University logo

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
12
NU Northeastern University logo

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1898

US #136 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$30,915/yr
Admission rate
5%
Earnings (10yr)
$92,538
Students
17,326
13
RI Rochester Institute of Technology logo

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York · Private University · Est. 1829

US #197 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$34,906/yr
Admission rate
67%
Earnings (10yr)
$76,571
Students
13,215
14
CU The Catholic University of America logo

The Catholic University of America

Washington, District of Columbia · Private University · Est. 1887

US #222 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$29,561/yr
Admission rate
83%
Earnings (10yr)
$73,250
Students
3,154
15
AU American University logo

American University

Washington, District of Columbia · Private University · Est. 1893

US #241 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$41,943/yr
Admission rate
62%
Earnings (10yr)
$77,370
Students
7,266
16
LU Lindenwood University logo

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri · Private University · Est. 1827

US #319 ROI D Admissions open
Net price
$19,638/yr
Admission rate
57%
Earnings (10yr)
$53,278
Students
4,624
17
SN Southern New Hampshire University logo

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire · Private University · Est. 1932

US #324 ROI D Admissions open
Net price
$36,708/yr
Admission rate
100%
Earnings (10yr)
$50,318
Students
163,164
18
SU Suffolk University logo

Suffolk University

Boston, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1906

US #391 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$29,618/yr
Admission rate
82%
Earnings (10yr)
$67,506
Students
4,268
19
MU Mercyhurst University logo

Mercyhurst University

Erie, Pennsylvania · Private University · Est. 1926

US #421 ROI F Admissions open
Net price
$19,444/yr
Admission rate
81%
Earnings (10yr)
$47,452
Students
2,191
20
MC Mississippi Christian University logo

Mississippi Christian University

Clinton, Mississippi · Private University · Est. 1826

US #446 ROI D Admissions open
Net price
$27,712/yr
Admission rate
29%
Earnings (10yr)
$47,485
Students
2,518
21
SM St. Mary's University logo

St. Mary's University

San Antonio, Texas · Private University · Est. 1852

US #588 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$21,145/yr
Admission rate
98%
Earnings (10yr)
$56,955
Students
1,951
22
NS The New School logo

The New School

New York, New York · Private University · Est. 1919

US #590 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$58,741/yr
Admission rate
63%
Earnings (10yr)
$52,901
Students
6,563
23
LM Le Moyne College logo

Le Moyne College

Syracuse, New York · Private University · Est. 1946

US #596 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$22,277/yr
Admission rate
83%
Earnings (10yr)
$62,731
Students
2,439
24
EC Endicott College logo

Endicott College

Beverly, Massachusetts · Private University · Est. 1939

US #608 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$40,654/yr
Admission rate
71%
Earnings (10yr)
$58,336
Students
3,125

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 →

Frequently asked questions

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

By our composite ranking, the top choices include University of Miami, Tufts University, Drexel University. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

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

This page lists private Professional 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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