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884 Best Public Arts, Design & Architecture Universities in the United States

Cornell University leads the 884 Public Arts, Design & Architecture universities in the United States at #13 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Next come University of Chicago (QS World #13) and Princeton University (QS World #15). The universities on this list offer 2,646 matching courses between them.

884 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1Best overall
CU Cornell University logo
QS World #13 #6 in United States United States

Cornell University

Public University · 6 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

All 6 courses →
Tuition (indicative)
Founded
Students
International
Admissions open
#13 QS World University Rankings 2026
#6 in United States
10Ranked
US University of Southern California logo
QS World #146 #34 in United States United States
#146 QS World University Rankings 2026
#34 in United States
15Ranked
UM University of Minnesota-Twin Cities logo
QS World #203 #50 in United States Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Public University · 4 courses in Arts, Design & Architecture

USD 38,362/yrTuition (indicative)
Founded
31,855Students
International
Admissions open
#203 QS World University Rankings 2025
#50 in United States
21Ranked
UA University of Arizona logo
QS World #287 #69 in United States United States
#287 QS World University Rankings 2026
#69 in United States

How these universities are ranked

56 of these universities hold a QS World position, from #13 (Cornell University) to #593 (University of Central Florida); they are listed first, in that order. The rest are ordered by research impact. University of Washington has the largest research record in this group, with 98,078,141 citations and an h-index of 3,639. 31 universities have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

Public, private and where they are

The split is 884 public to 0 private institutions. By location, New York (4), Texas (3) and Massachusetts (3) account for the most of those we can place. The oldest is University of California, Berkeley, founded in 1868. Ohio State University-Main Campus is the largest, with 45,638 students.

What the courses look like

By level: 1,650 bachelor's, 235 master's, 141 diploma and 45 professional. Within the subject, the largest areas are Arts, Design & Architecture (2,557), Fine Arts (52), Multimedia Design (8) and Fashion Design (7). The usual length is 4 years and 1–2 years. 98% are full-time and 47 can be studied online. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake) and Spring (99% of courses with a stated intake). Pratt Institute offers the widest choice, with 83 of these courses.

What it costs

We hold indicative fees for 24 of these universities. University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez is the least expensive at USD 5,274 a year and University of California, Berkeley the most at USD 44,000; the middle of the range is about USD 19,531. Check each university's own fee page before you budget — figures change every year.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top universities for Public Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?

Cornell University (QS World #13), University of Chicago (QS World #13) and Princeton University (QS World #15) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

Which is the cheapest university for Public Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?

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.

How many public universities offer Public Arts, Design & Architecture in the United States?

884 public and 0 private universities are on this list.

How long does a Public Arts, Design & Architecture course take in the United States?

Most listed courses run 4 years, with 1–2 years the next most common.

When do Public Arts, Design & Architecture courses start in the United States?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then, and Spring is the second.

Can I study Public Arts, Design & Architecture online with a university in the United States?

47 of these courses are listed as online.

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