<p>I've been lurking here for a while, just beginning to post. D will apply to art schools for Fall 2009 admission. Her present interest is photography, but we realize that could change after foundation year. We're interested in finding best overall fine arts programs with her photo interest in mind. Key to school selection is merit aid. She'll be GPA 4.3w, IB diploma, 1300+ SAT and top 5% of class. </p>
<p>With current US News MFA rankings in mind, we'd expect to consider:</p>
<p>Yale (not really, but it heads the US News list)
School of the Art Institue of Chicago
Rhode Island School of Design
Rochester Institute of Technology
University of New Mexico
California Institute of the Arts
San Francisco Art Institute
School of Visual Arts
UCLA
Arizona State University
California College of the Arts</p>
<p>And with past years' rankings (photo MFA) in mind, we'd likely add
Pratt Institute
Temple University/Tyler
University of Arizona</p>
<p>My question(s): How might the MFA rankings transfer to an institution's BFA programs? What great BFA-only programs (especially for photography, but also for Fine Arts), might be missed by a MFA-focused ranking? And asked another way, what might be some of the best schools for Fine Arts that don't offer a graduate degree?</p>
<p>I do not know if the same holds true in visual art as in the performing arts (theatre to be more specific), but often a school with a high powered MFA program may not offer undergraduate students in the BFA or BA program the same opportunities and training. All of the focus going to the high powered MFA. This may not be the case with visual arts, but it is worth looking into.</p>
<p>You may want to look at Ringling College of Art and Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, and Columbia College of Chicago.</p>
<p>Although RIT might have the best photography program noted, RISD would be good too. Maybe she would have a chance for duel admission to both Brown and RISD?</p>
<p>Also consider Wash U St Louis. They have a very good art program and strong liberal arts.</p>
<p>If she were more into Design or wants to switch to design, she should also consider University of Cincinnti. Their DAAP school ( Design, Art, Architecture and Planning) is terrific, and they have 1.5 years of paid coop experience as part of the program,which is unbeatable.</p>
<p>KatMT: Interesting point about possible inverse relationship between MFA rank and BFA program. I'll keep asking. </p>
<p>Taxguy: RIT is on the list for sure. Cincinnatti surprised us with insistence on UW GPA (which isn't bad, but seems to discount her full load of AP and IB classes). Also, school reps tell me the Fine Arts/Studio majors don't do co-op.</p>
<p>I'll add to the list of undergrad-only art schools:</p>
<p>Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD)
Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD)
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI)</p>
<p>Also curious if there's any knowledge of the undergrad art programs at University of New Mexico, Arizona State University and University of Arizona, all of which were well represented in the US News MFA rankings (especially in photography).</p>
<p>Kevin Pierce notes,"Also, school reps tell me the Fine Arts/Studio majors don't do co-op."</p>
<p>Response: Yes, you are generally right. Although I think their fine arts program is fine, they don't generally have the coop opportunities that design students have,but this is true for many schools. Also, Cincinniti's insistance of having at least a decent GPA is the trend among art programs. Many of them ( RISD, MICA, even Pratt Institute) are requiring higher GPAs in addition to having a good portfolio;however, a strong portfolio can allow for a slightly lower GPA.</p>
<p>I've heard some very good things about New Mexico, but never realized that the Arizona schools were any good until I moved out of the state. Either way, they provide beautiful landscape subject matter.</p>
<p>If it's in the budget, I'd look at Parsons as well.</p>
<p>Pratt Institute has merit scholarships. I think the minimum requirement is having a 3.5 gpa, when I applied back in 2005, they were the most generous in merit aid.</p>