University of the Arts
Locations: PA-Philadelphia
Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorates
Programs: Film, Dance, Theater, Music, Visual Arts, Design
Tuition Range: $38,840 per Year
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Located in Philadelphia, PA, the University of the Arts is a small, private university dedicated exclusively to creative/artistic disciplines. Hosting approximately 2200 students per year, the school offers nearly 40 distinct undergraduate and graduate degree plans, which include Graphic Design, Interior Design, Animation, Film/Video, Photography, Illustration, Painting/Drawing, Music, Theater, Screenwriting, and others. According to the school’s website, the University of the Arts is also launching a major in Music Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology beginning Fall 2012.
While focused on the creative arts, design and media-related careers, the University of the Arts follows a conventional academic format, so expect to invest about 4 years of study to earn a bachelor’s degree. Also plan on paying steep tuition rates, at nearly $39,000 per year for students on a full-time schedule.
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Student Reviews
Located in Philadelphia, PA, the University of the Arts is a small, private university dedicated exclusively to creative/artistic disciplines. Hosting approximately 2200 students per year, the school offers nearly 40 distinct undergraduate and graduate degree plans, which include Graphic Design, Interior Design, Animation, Film/Video, Photography, Illustration, Painting/Drawing, Music, Theater, Screenwriting, and others. According to the [...]
Review by Justin C.
August 12, 2012 2.5I attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, graduating with a degree in film in May of 2010. In four years at UArts, I incurred approximately $91,000 in debt. Which I am currently paying off one month and three payments at a time. The worst case scenario would be out of debt around the time that I hit 40.
UArts both did and didn’t meet my expectations. It met my expectations in a way that from day one, I was completely immersed in artistic environment, and that was incredible. It did not meet my expectations in that I did not feel it adequately prepared you for the real world. Which is both a failing on my part and I believe partially a failing on theirs. I got an internship my senior year during the fall semester, at a film distribution company and I have remained there two-and-a-half years later. Unlike the majority of my friends that I went to school with, I have a full-time job in the field of my choosing.
I would definitely recommend UArts to other people, with certain caveats. The thing that most stands out to me is, and this probably applies to college in general, but do not go to art school especially a conservatory, unless you are 150% committed to what you want to do. My freshman year, I was very overwhelmed and I nearly dropped out of school, but it was my commitment to film and the fact that I wanted to do that more than anything, that pushed me to stay and recover and eventually graduate with a 3.3 GPA.
Looking back on it, I would definitely go to UArts again. But there are many things that I wished that I knew then that I know now. I would have been more outgoing. I would have taken more classes. I would have taken more advantage of opportunities. You’re paying $30,000 a year to go to school. Knowing that and understanding that are two different things, and looking back on it, I wished that I had immersed myself in it more and that I had done more with the opportunities.
The advice I would give someone thinking about going to art school or even in college in general is, as I said before, be committed. Know what you want. Go after it. Focus on that. College is such a time of growing up and you change so much that it’s very simple to get distracted from what you want to do. But you should always keep that on mind and you’re paying thousands of dollars. And I’m not sure if this is true for every school, but the school I went to is not going to force you to learn. They will take your money and if you don’t go to class, you don’t go to class. They are not going to lose sleep over it. If you’re going to film school, you need commitment.
Debt Accrued: Greater than $50,000
Found work after graduation? Yes
Review by Tom C.
August 1, 2012 3I attended The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA from 2007- 2011 (BFA in Jazz/ Drumset performance)
It met or exceeded some of my expectations, and at the same time introduced new standards that it did not meet. I went to school to network with others and to throw myself into an exclusive scene of musicians. With regards to those goals I would say (as someone less than a year into the “real world”) that I am at a good place that will allow me to follow my desired path as a musician. There were many faculty members who made us wonder, “why the hell is this school letting them teach us?” but I also had a select few teachers who I believe changed the course of my life- they became mentors. At this point if there is any shortcoming in prospects I would blame myself before blaming the school I went to.
However, after graduating school I would feel very lucky to actually find a lucrative job in this or any city that would still allow me to follow my dreams as a musician. I have friends at other schools who had to take core classes that they feel better prepared them for “the real world.” I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t go to school to find out how to make money [that is not sarcasm].
I am far from disappointed in the work I have done so far in my field. True, I am managing a restaurant to make rent. But I am playing gigs that make me happy, seeking an internship in music production and teaching private lessons. I think there were opportunities in my field I could have taken that would have given me a steadier income, but those gigs would make me less happy and distance me from the path I want to take as a musician. Call me romantic, young, naive, what have you, but at this point in my life the gigs that make me happy give me the opportunity to be the musician I want, and the gigs I take for their pay only make me a little less broke. I’d rather be broke and happy.
It is hard to say who I would recommend UArts to, because it can lead to great connections and a life- changing experience, but I feel like the school isn’t set up to offer these things. I think it is merely luck that I came across some great teachers and experiences at a school whose greatest attribute is its name.
My advice for anyone looking at school- music, art, or any type of major is that you need to decide, before anything else, why you are going to school. And for me there are two answers to the question- you are either going to learn how to make money or to learn how to do what you love. These two answers can overlap, but if you are going to school to learn how to make money doing what you love you might end up compromising on both fronts.
Debt Accrued: Greater than $50,000
Found work after graduation? No
Review by Andrew M.
July 27, 2012 3I attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia despite having grown up in New York City and having a father who taught at The New School and Pratt.
I failed a class because I wrote a very opinionated paper about Newspaper Movie Reviewers and how we shouldn’t be studying them in film school. My professor gave me an opportunity to rewrite the paper, but being a stubborn 23 year old I told him to shove it up his ass. So I left art school needing only one credit to graduate and without a diploma.
Overall, I think film school eats up your wallet and tries to fill your head with other people’s visions. If I had the equipment that I have now back then I wouldn’t have needed film school. You can get just as much not going to film school if you watch lots of movies and pay attention to the little details in life then, instead of tuition, use the money to get a decent camera, Final Cut Pro, and a good Mac. Hang around other artists and you will figure it out. This only applies if you live in or near New York or LA. If you don’t then go to film school in New York or LA because otherwise you’re screwed!
Debt Accrued: $25,001 - $50,000
Found work after graduation? No