Cranbrook Academy of Art is not just a graduate school — it’s a dynamic community of architects, artists, and designers redefining visual and material culture. Known for decades as the “incubator of mid-century modernism,” Cranbrook has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century, producing graduates whose impact far outweighs the Academy’s intimate size.
Founded as an experimental artists’ colony in Michigan, Cranbrook remains true to its roots. Instead of conventional classes and rigid curriculums, you’ll work in close mentorship with faculty and Artists-in-Residence — renowned practitioners actively shaping their fields — while pursuing your own questions, experiments, and ambitions. With time, space, and the support of a diverse and collaborative community, you’ll find the freedom to grow as both an artist and a professional.
Ranked among the United States’s top graduate-only programs in art, architecture, and design, Cranbrook prepares students to enter the industry with confidence. Our community includes up to 150 graduate students across 10 disciplines: Architecture, Ceramics, Fiber, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Metalsmithing, Painting, Photography, Print Media, and Sculpture.
Accessibility is at the core of our mission. In the current academic year, 97% of Academy students received gift funding. Each year, we award up to 10 full-tuition Gilbert Fellowships to students from diverse backgrounds, alongside more than 50 merit scholarships. Beyond campus, we help students secure residencies, fellowships, and opportunities at leading design studios.
Learn more about our programs at our Open House on October 25. If you can’t make it, join us for an upcoming webinar or schedule a portfolio review. There simply is no other school — no other place — like this.
To learn more and apply, visit cranbrookart.edu.
