QUICK ANSWER
There is no single best academy. There is a best fit: the academy whose verifiable record matches the schools and programmes your student is aiming for. An academy strong at one school may have little experience at another.
To judge fit, ask each academy for its results school by school, with scholarship counts. Below is our own record for ten schools. We show it so families can see what a checkable record looks like, and so they can ask other academies for the same.
Families often compare academies by total acceptances or by reputation. A total hides the detail that matters. A student applying to CalArts Character Animation needs different preparation from one applying to SVA Illustration or ArtCenter Transportation Design.
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What a School-by-School Record Looks Like
| School | Acceptances | Scholarship awards | Award rate | Average award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVA | 140 | 41 | 29% | $58,944 (n=41) |
| Pratt | 102 | 40 | 39% | $67,638 (n=40) |
| SAIC | 81 | 56 | 69% | $46,775 (n=56) |
| RISD | 68 | 4 | 6% | Not reported (n=4) |
| MICA | 64 | 51 | 80% | $54,290 (n=51) |
| Parsons | 63 | 38 | 60% | $53,116 (n=38) |
| CCA | 50 | 24 | 48% | $57,167 (n=24) |
| SCAD | 42 | 34 | 81% | $30,221 (n=34) |
| Otis | 38 | 31 | 82% | $63,935 (n=31) |
| CalArts | 15 | — | — | — |
Royal Blue results record, 2009–2026: 1,099 acceptances at 95 schools, each confirmed directly with the student. These ten schools account for 663. Award amounts are first-notice figures. Averages based on very few awards are not reported.
Read this way, a record says much more than a total. Our numbers are high at SVA and Pratt and low at CalArts, and RISD awards were rare. A family aiming at CalArts animation should weigh that, and ask any academy for its CalArts record by programme.
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Questions That Reveal Fit
- Which of our target schools do you know best, by numbers? Ask for acceptances by school and year.
- How were results confirmed? Confirmed with each student, or counted from applications?
- What do scholarship averages rest on? An average without the number of awards can mislead.
- Who teaches the programmes we need? For example observational drawing for CalArts Character Animation, or project-based work for ArtCenter.
- What is the registered fee? Korea’s Academies Act requires academies to register and display fees.
A NOTE ON CLAIMS
Be careful with claims that cannot be checked: “top acceptance rate”, unnamed totals, or averages without counts. An honest record includes weak spots as well as strengths. Our pages on checking academy claims and whether an academy is necessary go further.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Korean art academy is best for U.S. art school?
The one whose verifiable record matches your target schools and programmes. Ask each academy for results school by school.
Is a high total of acceptances enough?
No. Ask for the breakdown by school and year, and how each result was confirmed.
Why does Royal Blue not report an average RISD scholarship?
Because our record has only four RISD awards, too few for a meaningful average. We show it as Not reported (n=4).
Where are Royal Blue’s results strongest?
By count, SVA (140 acceptances) and Pratt (102). Award rates were highest at Otis (82%), SCAD (81%) and MICA (80%).
What should I check about fees?
Ask to see the academy’s registered fee, which Korea’s Academies Act requires academies to display.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances at 95 schools, each confirmed directly with the student. In a consultation we will show the part of our record that matches your student’s target schools. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026), as published on our results page. Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: Royal Blue Results · Checking Academy Claims · Is an Academy Necessary? · Korean Academies Compared · SVA vs RISD for Design