Best LAC for Art BA or BFA

My junior D wants a LAC in case she wants to combine her art studies with another field for practical purposes. Any ideas for those colleges with strong art, specifically painting drawing illustration, that are actually affordable and not Ivy League type standards. She doesn’t want a school that emphasizes mostly contemporary or modern. Williams looks amazing but the cost is out of reach. We’re in Midwest so anything a bit closer might help but not a deal breaker. Dream school of course would be RISD (for me) but she wants a LAC. GPA is 3.7, no ACT yet. I appreciate any advice.

Take a look at Denison, outside Columbus, Ohio. Offers a BFA as well as BA, with gorgeous fine arts facilities in Bryant Arts building. Offers merit money, is test optional, and a 3.7 would be competitive for admissions. We know several grads who are working in arts-related fields in NYC.

Thanks! Do u know if they have a more contemporary bent or not. She’s looking for a good Traditional painting faculty?

For strong art programs with potential merit scholarship recognition, look into Lake Forest, Wheaton (MA), Centre, Cornell College.

For a generally affordable school, also with a notably strong art program, research Purchase College.

If Williams looks amazing, Kenyon, if affordable, might represent an even better choice considering geographical preferences.

@HLongo, Could you please provide a bit more information on what “affordable” means to your family? What’s your budget?

Are you eligible for sufficient need based aid? If no, then most need-only LACs will be unworkable. If you’re not sure, run a few on-line calculators to get a ballpark figure. I mention this because although Williams (and several other LACs) don’t offer merit aid, they are quite generous with need-based aid (if you qualify).

Kenyon is a good suggestion. I would also look at Skidmore, Smith, Oberlin.
Hamilton, Vassar and Wesleyan if need-based aid is an option.

Kenyon and Oberlin offer merit aid. Not sure about the rest, as we looked only at Midwestern LACs.

As an alternative to NPCs, this resource can be especially convenient: https://myintuition.org/.

Williams, it should be noted, admits its students using criteria similar to that of Ivy League colleges.

Thank you- we will not qualify for need aid so merit is only option. Hoping to keep the yearly Total cost to 25k. Maybe not possible - but art schools are even higher so…
Her teacher recommended LCAD-small but very highly ranked.

Any VCU experiences?

Ohio wesleyan might get you fairly close to your price point and they look the they have BFA and a BA. Campus is beautiful and students seemed very welcoming. Other ideas with decent merit (but I have no idea if they have art programs) would be Depauw, College of Wooster, and Susquehanna. All would probably closer to $35k though based on my daughter’s merit offers with similar stats.

We looked at the art departments at many LACs. Bard has a great program and amazingly talented students. Just make sure its a good fit. It wasn’t for my child.

Colorado College is also very strong. More competitive admissions than Bard. It’s academic block plan can be well suited to Fine Arts majors.

I don’t think Pratt is considered an LAC, but they have fairly strong non-art teaching/faculty. I believe a friend’s child got really great merit aid there and she is a painter as well.

I don’t have direct experience at VCU, but my understanding is that they have a terrific art department, especially in sculpture. Definitely not an LAC, though.

In the same general category as VCU you might look at Cincinnati. Strong fine arts with a pragmatic focus. Not sure about merit, but Cincinnati’s co-op system helps defray costs.