U.S. art schools are globally recognized for their excellent education, rigorous curriculum, and numerous opportunities for arts aspirants. In this guide, we’ve particularly focused on the best art schools in Philadelphia, another vibrant city with a rich history and culture in Pennsylvania, USA.
There are almost 30 colleges and universities in the Philadelphia Area. Some of the most notable being the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Moore College of Art & Design, Saint Joseph’s, Drexel, and Villanova University. However, we have covered only the art institutions in Philadelphia.
List of Art Schools in Philadelphia – 2025
The list below is compiled based on parameters including ranking, learning environment, and available programs and majors in the arts.
Table of Contents
1. Taylor School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Taylor School of Art and Architecture is located on the main campus of Temple University in North Philadelphia. It is among the top 10 best art schools in Philadelphia, which offers many benefits to prospective students. There are 40+ degree programs offered to undergraduate and graduate students, as majors, minors, and certifications.
Benefits/Perks
- Learning communities
- Transportation to get to and from campus
- Beautiful library
- Foundational courses, even before actual courses, are used to build prerequisite skills for advanced courses
Programs
- Environmental Design
- Studio Art:
- Ceramics
- Glass
- Fibers & Material Studies
- Painting
- Printmaking
- Photography
- Sculpture
- Art History & Arts Management
- Art Education
- Visual Studies
- Art Therapy
- Art Education and Community Art Partnership
To know more about the programs, certifications, and the school, you can visit their website.
More information on: Taylor School Art + Architecture.
Address: 2001 N. 13th St., Philadelphia, PA 19122
2. Moore College of Art & Design
Moore College is located in the heart of Philadelphia, which offers quality art education to aspiring students. It is the only art school with a guaranteed paid internship for every student in every major. It offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Additionally, these programs include adult continuing education and youth programs.
The college is among the best art colleges in Philadelphia, and pursuing a art degree would definitely open a lot of opportunities in the USA and globally.
Programs
- Animation and Game Arts
- Art Education
- Fashion Design
- Film Making
- Fine Arts
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Interior Design
- Photography
Moore College is highly recommended to those students who seek a great art school within Philadelphia or Pennsylvania. Students graduated from University of the Arts (UvA) are now able to withdraw transcripts from Moore College. To know more about the college and its programs, kindly visit Moore College of Art & Design.
Address: 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
3. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts – PAFA
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts was established in 1805 and recognized as be first school and museum for fine arts in the United States. It is located at North Broad Street, Philadelphia. PAFA is a non-profit college accredited through various art associations, such as the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD), and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The academy also has a beautiful museum which showcases American art and history. It offers certificate programs for both undergraduate and graduate students in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania.
Programs and Certificates
- Foundation Certificate – A one-year undergraduate certificate program to build foundational skills in various genres. Including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media.
- Studio Residency Certificate – The certificate program focuses on specialized training in skills gained from the foundation certificate program, such as painting, visual, and media arts. The program duration can be one year or two years.
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate – It’s a graduate-level one-year program for professional artistic works and portfolio development, for those who have a undergraduate degree in an arts genre.
PAFA has a lot to offer for art students, which you can find on their official website.
More information on: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Address: 118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
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4. Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School
Performing Arts Charter School is a public charter school located in Philadelphia. It was founded in 2000 and offers an arts and science curriculum in performing arts. Students looking for a perfect school in the performing arts, then look no further. The school is one of the best performing arts schools for kids and adults in the United States.
Programs
- Classical Ballet
- Concert Band
- Contemporary Dance
- String Orchestra
- Theatre
- TV & Broadcasting
- Vocal Music
- Art & Design
- Fine Arts
- 3D Design
We have listed these programs that are offered in 2025, the list might change in the future. To be up to update, kindly visit the Philadelphia Performing Arts website.
Address: 1600 Vine Street | 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102
5. School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania
The School of Arts and Sciences, also known as Penn Arts & Sciences, is an arts school at the University of Pennsylvania, which is a private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The undergraduate programs are offered at the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Liberal and Professional Studies. While graduate programs are offered in the Graduate Division and the College of Liberal and Professional Studies.
Programs
- Applied Arts and Sciences
- Fine Arts
- Classical Studies
- Contemporary Writing
- History
- Languages, Literature, and Linguistics
More information on: Penn School of Arts & Sciences.
Address: 120 Claudia Cohen Hall, 249 South 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6304
6. College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University
The College of Arts and Sciences at St. Joseph’s University (JSU) offers various degree programs in the arts and sciences disciplines. The university is among the best places to study in Philadelphia in several disciplines, including the arts. It offers courses for both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Programs
- Art
- Art History
- Graphic Design
- Art Therapy
- Commercial Photography
- Museum Studies
More information on: Saint Joseph’s University – College of Arts and Sciences.
Address: 5600 City Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19131
7. College of Arts & Sciences (CoAS), Drexel University
Drexel University is among the prestigious universities in Philadelphia and the USA. The College of Arts & Sciences at Drexel is known for its quality education and rigorous curriculum. It offers degree programs as majors and minors for both graduate and undergraduate levels.
Programs
- BA Communication
- MS Communication
- Doctoral Communication, Culture and Media
- Master of Fine Arts
- BA History
There are many other programs listed on their website. But we have only chosen programs mainly in the arts category. If you want to know more about these or other programs, can visit their website.
More information on: College of Arts and Sciences (CoAS), Drexel University.
Address: 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
8. Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University is among the top private research universities in the United States, located in Philadelphia. It was founded in 1824. The university offers a rigorous curriculum and various disciplines, especially the arts. Some of the known arts programs are Textile Design, Art Therapy, and Fine and Studio Arts.
Programs
- Textile Design
- Art Therapy
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Art History
- Arts and Culture
- Digital Design
- Drawing
- Fashion Design
- Fashion Drawing
- Graphic Design
- Interior Design
- Music
- Print Design
- Visual Studies
More information on: Thomas Jefferson University.
Address: 4201 Henry Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19144
Conlusion
These art schools and colleges are some of the best in both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. Selecting any of these institutions will be a worthwhile investment of your time and money. However, we recommend choosing the one that best aligns with your interests and course preferences. If you feel that any information is missing or if you have any questions, please share your feedback. We would love to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time!