A private art school in NYC educating artists, designers, and creative professionals since 1947.
SVA offers 11 undergraduate BFA programs and 22 graduate programs (MFA, MA, MPS) spanning animation, advertising, design, film, fine arts, illustration, photography, interior design, and specialized fields like art therapy and curatorial practice. The school is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and holds specialized accreditations for interior design (CIDA), art therapy (AATA), and art education (CAEP). The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and professional practice, supported by over 1,100 faculty members who are working artists and designers. Continuing education offerings include noncredit courses, professional development, corporate training, and summer residency programs.
SVA's urban campus spans multiple buildings in Manhattan's Gramercy Park, Chelsea, and Lower East Side neighborhoods. Facilities include the SVA Library (housing the Milton Glaser Design Study Center and Archives), the Visible Futures Lab (featuring fabrication technology), three permanent gallery locations (Gramercy, Flatiron, and Chelsea), and the SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street, opened 2009, designed by Milton Glaser). Three residence halls house students: the 23rd Street Residence (for first-year students), the 24th Street Residence (505 residents, opened 2016), and the Ludlow Residence (306 rooms, opened 2009). The school maintains a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and hosts 35+ extracurricular clubs.
SVA admits undergraduate freshmen, transfer students, and graduate applicants. The school offers pathways for domestic and international students. Specific admission statistics, test requirements, and application deadlines are available through the official website and admissions office.
SVA has graduated over 44,000 alumni, including Academy, Emmy, and Grammy award-winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Guggenheim Fellows. Alumni work spans film, television, illustration, photography, design, and fine arts. The school ranks #1 for 2D Animation (The Rookies Global School Rankings 2023–2025) and #1 in Top 50 Illustration Colleges (Animation Career Review 2023–2025). U.S. News & World Report recognizes SVA's Fine Arts graduate programs. The school is known for its iconic NYC subway poster campaigns, featuring work by faculty and designers since 1947.