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Stanford University leads the 9 Private Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the United States at #3 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It is followed by Harvard University (QS World #5) and Columbia University (QS World #14). The universities on this list offer 23 matching courses between them.
9 universities · ranked best first
how we rankPrivate University · 1 course in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 1 course in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 3 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 1 course in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 5 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 1 course in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 5 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 4 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture
Private University · 2 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture
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4 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #3 (Stanford University) to #16 (Yale University); they are listed first, in that order. Below them, universities follow their research output: Harvard University is cited most (146,463,495 citations). 3 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".
0 are public and 9 private (0% public). By location, Connecticut (2), Puerto Rico (2) and California (1) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is Harvard University, founded in 1636. Columbia University is the largest, with 33,000 students.
By level: 9 bachelor's, 6 master's, 2 foundation and 2 diploma. Within the subject, the largest areas are Arts, Design & Architecture (22) and Fine Arts (1). The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 79% are full-time and 4 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). Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus offers the widest choice, with 5 of these courses.
We hold indicative fees for 9 of these universities. Universidad del Sagrado Corazon is the least expensive at USD 6,410 a year and Columbia University the most at USD 66,000; the middle of the range is about USD 57,000. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.
Stanford University (QS World #3), Harvard University (QS World #5) and Columbia University (QS World #14) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.
Of those with published fees, Universidad del Sagrado Corazon is the least expensive at about USD 6,410 a year. Fees are indicative — confirm on the university's site.
0 public and 9 private universities are on this list.
Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.
Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.
4 of these courses are listed as online.
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