10 Hidden Gem Colleges for Creatives

At College MatchPoint, our goal is for our students to thrive at their selected colleges. Whether they’re seeking a stage to mount the next Hamilton or a seminar for sonnet revision, students should continue exploring their creative interests as they pursue higher education, regardless of their intended major. 



Here, we’ve identified 10 colleges that offer innovative, rigorous, and creative programming that appeals to the budding novelist, artist, or thespian in your life. 



Bard College


Located in Annandale-on-Hudson in New York, Bard College is a liberal arts institution that attracts artists, intellectuals, and individuals of all types. Bard’s Division of the Arts features programs in architecture, art history and visual culture, dance, film and electronic arts, music, photography, studio arts, and theater and performance. Academic pursuits are enriched by programming hosted by the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, a teaching and performing space designed by architect Frank Gehry. Moreover, Bard’s Written Arts program enjoys visiting faculty ranging from Neil Gaiman to the late Toni Morrison. 


Admit Rate: 64% 


Cost of Attendance: $76,774


Emerson College


Set in the heart of Boston’s theater district, Emerson College strives to educate a student body ready to serve as leaders in communication and the arts. With a focus on creative learning, Emerson College offers 26 academic majors that prepare graduates for careers in today’s media landscape. Notable majors include Comedic Arts (BFA), Stage & ScreenDesign/ Technology (BFA), and Business of Creative Enterprises (BA). Students hone their professional skills at the Tufte Performance and Production Center which features rehearsal spaces, a professional costume shop, makeup lab, and production facilities. 


Admit Rate: 33%


Cost of Attendance: $74,526


Rochester Institute of Technology


Casting a spotlight on technical expertise and career-readiness, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a large university focused on undergraduate outcomes. Students in the College of Art and Design have access to a cutting-edge production studio, RIT MAGIC (Media, Arts, Games, Interaction, and Creativity) Center. Beyond innovative artistic programs in medical illustration and furniture design, RIT students gain invaluable industry experience by participating in cooperative education (Co-op), which places students in full-time, paying jobs in the industry of their choosing. 


Admit Rate: 70%


Cost of Attendance: $67,260 


DePaul University


The largest Roman Catholic university in the nation, DePaul University, in the heart of Chicago’s upscale Lincoln Park neighborhood, is home to the oldest theatre training conservatory in the midwest. In addition to celebrated programs in Theatre and Acting, DePaul offers innovative programs in Cinematic Arts. Students interested in cinematic storytelling have access to the professional production equipment thanks to a partnership with Cinespace Chicago–the city’s premiere movie studio. 


Admit Rate: 68%


Cost of Attendance: $ 59,793 


Virginia Commonwealth University 


A public university with historical roots as a medical college, Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is one of the few public research institutions that champions the arts–in fact, the university encourages medical students to learn about the human body via sculpture. Students seeking the creative energy of downtown Richmond will be inspired by the university’s broad departmental offerings, such as Communication Arts, Craft and Material Studies, and Kinetic Imaging to name a few. 


Admit Rate: 87%


Cost of Attendance: $54,335 (out-of-state) 


Sarah Lawrence College


Inspired by Oxford University’s tutorial system, Sarah Lawrence College emphasizes student-directed learning through weekly student/faculty meetings and seminar-style courses. Sarah Lawrence offers nearly 50 academic disciplines for students to explore and design an individualized course of study. Creative and Performing Arts are especially strong at Sarah Lawrence, and admission to the college allows students to dabble in areas like Filmmaking and Production without a portfolio or  prior experience.   


Admit Rate: 53%


Cost of Attendance: $74,740 


Bennington College


As the first college in the country to highlight the arts in a liberal arts education, Bennington College lives the philosophy that art influences society, community, and intellectual pursuit. Students studying in the visual arts have 24-hour access to the 120,000 square-foot Visual and Performing Arts Center, a creative learning complex with digital labs, workshops, and seminar spaces. All Bennies participate in a field term that encourages aspiring artists and writers to work in a variety of off-campus creative organizations. In addition to a rigorous and inspiring writing curriculum, Bennington is home to the Robert Frost Stone House Museum, a literary landmark and the place where Frost penned “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening.”


Admit Rate: 60%


Cost of Attendance: $78,764 


Southwestern University


A small liberal arts institution in central Texas, Southwestern University stands in stark contrast to the typical Lonestar State university experience. Lauded as one of the Colleges that Change Lives, Southwestern is one of only a few liberal arts universities to support a separate school of fine arts. Within the nationally-recognized Sarofim School of Fine Arts, students work in tandem with faculty to explore majors in Studio Art, Art History, Music, and Theatre. The School of Fine Arts regularly hosts Musicale–a recital and showcase of musical works in development by students; Art majors can look forward to their senior projects on display at the university art museum. 


Admit Rate: 49%


Cost of Attendance: $59,580 


University of California-Santa Cruz


Touted as one of the nation’s most beautiful college campuses, UC Santa Cruz boasts 64 undergraduate majors, 41 minors, and an array of interdisciplinary programs that will catch the eye of any creative thinker. The Department of Performance, Play, and Design, an inaugural program, blends theatrical education with the Games and Playable Media Program to serve students seeking mastery of multimedia content and design. Students have access to numerous on-campus galleries, the Digital Arts Research Center, and the Ludo Lab Center for Games & Playable Media Research. 


Admit Rate: 51%


Cost of Attendance: $68,891


Lewis & Clark College 


Like the college’s namesakes, students at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, are encouraged to explore. Despite popular programs in international affairs, LC students flock to the arts, and 53% of students graduate with three or more arts courses under their belts. All arts programs (Art, Creative Writing, Music, Theatre & Dance) are open to majors and non-majors alike. Novelists and poets should pay special attention to L&C’s creative writing program–one of the longest-standing in the nation. 


Admit Rate: 72%


Cost of Attendance: $71,692




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