School: ArtCenter College of Design
Location: Pasadena, California
Undergraduate program: Bachelor of Science
Graduate program: Master of Science
Number of students: 680 (undergraduate); 86 (graduate)
Number of faculty: 270 (full- and part-time)
Notable alumni: Yves Béhar, Katie Dill of Airbnb, Martin Lotti of Nike, Wilhelm Oehl and Tim Kobe of Apple, film concept artist Neville Page, Michelle Christensen of Acura, Franz Von Holzhausen of Tesla
Website: artcenter.edu
Strengths: Prestigious faculty and intensive degree programs, industrial design programs – both undergrad and grad – have been repeatedly ranked top in the country in DesignIntelligence surveys
The overview: “Like a conservatory for aspiring performing artists,” ArtCenter offers “a space for dedicated art and design students to grow and thrive under the guidance of a faculty of working design professionals and artists.” Perched in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, the demanding school has a boot-camp reputation, but results include successes like a recent student group collaboration with Bernhardt Design on an office furniture collection for millennials, later presented at ICFF in New York. Undergrad degrees are offered not only in Product Design, but also Environmental, Transportation, Entertainment or Interaction Design; grads concentrate in Industrial Design, Environmental Design or Transportation Systems and Design. Money magazine says ArtCenter grads are among the best paid and hireable in the industry.