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Stanford University leads the 104 Master's Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the United States at #3 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Columbia University (QS World #14) and University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28). Across the whole list there are 241 courses to choose from.
104 universities · ranked best first
how we rankPrivate University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 4 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 3 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 4 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Public University · 1 course in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 2 courses in Master's Arts, Design & Architecture
Arts, Design & Architecture at other levels
Related subjects
By university type
14 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #3 (Stanford University) to #575 (University of South Carolina); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Stanford University is cited most (89,857,545 citations). 4 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".
100 are public and 4 private (96% public). By location, New York (3), California (2) and Texas (2) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Columbia University, founded in 1754. University of California, Berkeley is the largest, with 45,000 students.
Within the subject, the largest areas are Arts, Design & Architecture (229), Fine Arts (10) and Architecture (2). The usual length is 1–2 years and null. 96% are full-time and 10 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (100% of courses with a stated intake). Pratt Institute offers the widest choice, with 39 of these courses.
We hold indicative fees for 12 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and Columbia University the most at USD 66,000; the middle of the range is about USD 40,144. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.
Stanford University (QS World #3), Columbia University (QS World #14) and University of California, Berkeley (QS World #28) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.
Of those with published fees, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at about USD 5,274 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.
100 public and 4 private universities are on this list.
Most listed courses run 1–2 years, with null the next most common.
Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.
10 of these courses are listed as online.
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