Choosing a school and area of study for your bachelor’s degree in the United States, there are a lot of things to consider. Due to the rising cost of obtaining a degree, it’s important to choose a discipline and school which will be worth the investment. It may seem like a gamble in these times to pursue a degree in visual arts.
However, there are actually many career options for those who obtain a visual arts degrees, some of which are extremely financially lucrative. If you’re looking to study visual arts, there are many factors to think about. It can be overwhelming to make the decision. What are some important questions to ask yourself when it comes to picking where to pursue your visual arts education?
Location
Regardless of your area of study, one of the most important questions is where the school is located. A bachelor’s degree typically takes four years to obtain. It’s important to your happiness and academic success to like the place you will be living during your studies.
California is a good choice if your area of interest is sculpture. The sculpture scene continues to grow in California, particularly because there’s enough space for artists to display their larger works. New York City is another popular area to study art. The cost of living in New York can be prohibitive. However, the professional art scene in New York City has a respected reputation around the world. Studying art in New York allows you to have exposure to both established and up-and-coming artists, through places like Park West Gallery.
A more rural location can be a great choice if it allows you to focus on your work. Choose a location you think will enable your to grow and concentrate.
Type of School
There are two basic kinds of schools from which you can obtain your BFA. Many people choose to go to art schools. These schools offer no non-art related areas of study. They tend to have good studio spaces and many options for concentration. Art schools will often offer majors such as illustration, photography, graphic design, and more.
The other path is attending a regular university. From both art schools and universities, the degree you obtain will be the same — bachelor of fine arts (BFA). Some universities have smaller art departments than similarly sized art schools, and tend to have more academic requirements to obtain your degree. However, this can be positive if you want to pursue other academic interests while getting your BFA. Most quality universities still have decent studio spaces and offer many options for types of art to study.
Cost
Cost can be the main deciding factor for many looking to get their bachelor’s degree. If a school is expensive, that’s no reason to not apply — the school may offer you enough financial aid to make it your best option. You never know until you apply the kind of aid you may receive.
Conclusion
Choosing where to study art is a big decision. It’s good practice to apply to several schools you’re interested in. That way, you can later on decide which will be the best choice for you financially, academically, and personally.