Overview

VCUarts is a public, non-profit, accredited four-year art and design school housed within a major research university. Located in the vibrant downtown of Richmond, VA, our campus offers 18 bachelor’s degrees and 5 master’s degrees. We are a diverse community of creators who are dedicated to honing our craft and driven to tackle challenges that go beyond conventional arts practices. And, according to U.S. News and World Report, we are among the top-ranked arts and design school in the country.

VCUarts At-A-Glance

Learn about our rankings, class size, student body, academic program offerings and more.

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Our Mission

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts is deeply committed to the University's mission of advancing knowledge and student success. We are keenly aware of our distinct position to be a catalyst for engaged learning on a campus that is centered on the student and that fosters inquiry and innovation.

Our departments and programs expand the boundaries of new knowledge and emphasize research, creative expression and interdisciplinary collaborations. The School of the Arts\' work ethos underscores the importance of trust among our colleagues and peers, and the importance of creativity to bring new perspectives to complex problems for faculty, staff, and students alike.

“There's this boots-on-the-ground quality to VCUarts, an authenticity that exists among its students, its faculty, and its staff where everyone is committed to the arts, working toward the success of their work and the school”

Carmenita D. Higginbotham, Ph.D. Dean, VCUarts and Special Assistant to the Provost for the School of the Arts in Qatar
Meet the VCUarts Leadership

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

VCU and the School of the Arts value and celebrate diversity in all of its forms. We support thoughtful, informed and inclusive action, and are committed to empowering community values in which individuals of different perspectives, life experiences, cultural backgrounds, and social identities feel safe and welcomed.

More About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at VCUarts

Accreditation

Accreditation ensures that academic programs provided by institutions of higher education meet acceptable levels of quality. Accrediting associations develop rigorous evaluation criteria and conduct peer reviews on a regular basis.

VCU is an accredited institutional member of: