Learn More About SVA
Your Creative Story Begins Here
School of Visual Arts (SVA) is a college of art and design located in New York City.
We provide a road map for budding creatives to cultivate fulfilling and successful careers by nurturing and challenging our students to discover the fullest expression of their creative instincts.
Here’s how we do it:
It’s All about Connections
Join 43,000+ Alumni Who Are Shaping Visual Culture
Our alumni go on to work successfully in many creative fields and tend to hire fellow graduates because of a shared language and track record.
- With over 43,000 alumni from 128 countries, SVA represents one of the most influential artistic communities in the world.
- Among them are Academy Award-winners, Emmy Award-winners, Grammy Award-winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Guggenheim Fellows.
- Through programs, publications, and special events, our dedicated Alumni Affairs program maintains an active relationship with alumni and encourages them to support the College’s mission to educate future generations of artists, designers, and creative professionals.
Learn from Leaders
At SVA, You’ll Be Learning Directly from Faculty Members at the Forefront of Creative Industries
Our graduates and faculty are some of the most influential cultural forces, consistently producing images unparalleled in concept, impact, and craft.
- Over 1,100 best-in-class faculty members inspire students to cultivate hard and soft skill sets.
- Our faculty directly connect students to the working world; with each class students take, their network develops and deepens.
- Instructors include artists, critics, curators, designers, filmmakers, photographers, writers, and other creative professionals.
Undergraduate Student Work
New York City
Where Your Neighbors Are World-Class Museums, Galleries, Cultural Institutions, and Other Creative Individuals
Credit: M.J. O'TOOLE
Credit: M.J. O'TOOLE
With NYC as your classroom, you will graduate ready to jump into a career that could change your life—and, quite possibly, the world.
- Studying at SVA places you in the global epicenter of a thriving arts and culture scene.
- Find inspiration around every corner, whether it be landmarked buildings, street art or style or can’t-miss exhibitions.
- Our students are more likely to secure critical internships that lead to employment opportunities.
- Gramercy is your home base; a safe, centrally located neighborhood that’s serene enough to ensure shut-eye.
NYC ❤️ SVA
Wherever you go in NYC, there we are. Tour the College’s impact on the Big Apple at a glance by clicking on the map points below.
Find Your People
From Campus Tours to Clubs to Commencement, Find Your Friends along the Way
SVA is easily one of the most colorful, loud, and accepting communities that exists. The campus is practically a rainbow.
- Vast array of clubs to connect you with like-minded individuals
- State-of-the-art residence halls in Gramercy and the Lower East Side
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force dedicated to supporting BIPOC students and faculty
- Our three galleries — Gramercy, Flatiron, and Chelsea — exhibit work from students, faculty, and other community members.
- Open Studios engage community members and professionals alike to discover what our students have to offer.
Your Life@SVA
Being an SVA student unlocks a world of possibilities. Here’s what you need to know:
- Departments and Programs: Applicants declare an intended major, with 11 different dynamic programs from which to choose.
- Financial Aid: Scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study provide students with financial assistance.
- Request Information: Receive our paperback undergraduate Viewbook via snail mail or sign up for our digital newsletter.
- FAQ: In-depth info on applications and enrollment and guidance for international student applicants.
The lens lifts the veil on that which we hadn’t considered that we could see.