Who We Are

Established in 1876, the University of the Arts is dedicated to educating students in the visual, performing and communication arts. Students and faculty connect, create and collaborate across disciplines and traditional boundaries, in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, one of the nation’s most culturally vibrant cities.

University of the Arts students enjoy the benefits of a dynamic urban setting and easy access to world-class theaters, museums and art galleries, as well as the resources of the nation’s cultural capitals, New York and Washington, D.C., both within a two-hour drive. 

With 22 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs in six areas of study (Design, Visual Arts, Film, Dance, Theater and Music), our more than 2,300 students immerse themselves in a rigorous and well-rounded curriculum with a strong liberal arts component that prepares them to be the creative leaders of tomorrow, no matter what field they choose.