Florida Design Schools: Picking a Program in a Bustling Scene

It's no coincidence that Art Basel, one of the world's leading contemporary art shows and arguably one of the most important shows in the United States, takes place in Miami Beach, Florida. Miami is the place to be for young artists, designers and gallery owners, and that means Florida is the place to be for design school students and aspiring artists all around the country, too. Some of the most exciting currents in the world of modern art are starting in Florida - so why shouldn't your career start there, too? Before embarking on a design school program, however, it's important to know where the best design schools are in Florida and how much they'll cost.

What are some of the best design schools in Florida?

Florida is home to 40 public and 144 private institutions, so the options for higher education are extremely diverse in the Sunshine State. There are a number of great choices for design schools, too. Almost 4,000 students are enrolled in just a few of the top design schools; there are probably thousands more enrolled in other schools around the state. This probably helps to explain the vibrancy of the art scene in Florida, which no doubt extends to the professionals on staff at design schools, as well. A few of the top schools for on- campus programs include the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale (average enrollment 3,145 students), the Art Institute of Tampa (average enrollment 685 students) and the Florida School of the Arts (average enrollment 150). Florida schools accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design include the University of Florida, FIT (or the Fashion Institute of Technology), Florida International University, University of South Florida and Miami University.

Online options include Miami International University of Art and Design, Full Sail University, International Academy of Design and Technology, American Intercontinental University and the online program with the Art Institute of Tampa. A bit of personal research might yield a number of other programs, as well, but it's important to make sure your online choice is properly accredited before spending your money on enrollment. It's easy to check this, though. Contact your program to determine which agency accredited it. Then, check the United States Department of Education's website to see if that agency has been recognized. If it hasn't been approved or it isn't on the list, your selected program is a diploma mill and you should not enroll.

How much will my design school program cost?

The cost of your design school experience will vary depending on the program, your financial aid award and your own personal spending habits. Naturally, tuition will be much less expensive at a public school, though you may have to pay extra for the amenities you'd be able to take for granted at a private school (like printing in the computer lab, for example). Tuition and fees at a public design school in Florida will be about $2,980 per academic year on average. For that same length of time, tuition at a private design school with be an average of $19,167.

Students who choose to attend online will pay roughly the same amount of money in tuition and fees - about $200 per credit hour for an undergraduate program and $300 per credit hour for a graduate program - but they will save substantially on their living costs. Room and board at a public college in Florida costs roughly $7,730 per academic year. If a student choose to live at home, they may save enormously on that amount.

Whether living on campus or living at home, Florida design students will be living in the heart of a bustling art scene - no matter where in the state they are.

Sources:
To learn more about Florida Design Schools, including curriculum and program info, visit Design Schools. To learn more about design school accreditation, visit the Diploma Mills Accreditation.