Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York. It has an additional campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. The institute was founded in 1887 with programs primarily in engineering, architecture, and fine arts. Comprising six schools, the institute is recognized for its programs in architecture, graphic design, interior design, industrial design, and fine arts.

Pratt Institute was founded in 1887 by Charles Pratt, a prominent American industrialist and oil magnate. Having made his fortune through Astral Oil Works and later through a merger with John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil, Pratt envisioned a college that would offer practical education to the working-class population of Brooklyn. Though he never attended college himself, he believed strongly in the transformative power of education. He purchased land in Clinton Hill near his home and opened the institute with just 12 students. From the outset, the school offered technical training in areas like architectural engineering, mechanics, and dressmaking, with drawing as a foundational element across disciplines. The curriculum also included liberal arts subjects to help students understand the broader world.

The institute grew rapidly, reaching 1,000 students within its first year and nearly 4,000 by its fifth anniversary. It earned national attention for its innovative model and became a point of inspiration for Andrew Carnegie when establishing his own educational institutions. During this period, Pratt expanded its offerings to include a high school, library school, music department, and a popular Department of Commerce. This department later separated and became the Heffley School of Commerce, which evolved into Brooklyn Law School. Leadership passed from Charles Pratt to his sons, with Frederic B. Pratt playing a crucial role in shaping the institute’s early decades.

In 1896, the Pratt Library was inaugurated, designed in a Victorian-Renaissance Revival style with interiors by the Tiffany Decorating and Glass Company. It was the only public library in Brooklyn at the time and played a dual role as a resource for the community and as a training ground for future librarians. The institute continued to grow and diversify its programmes, especially for women, offering training in fields such as library science, home economics, and nursing. By the early 20th century, the school was organised into separate departments, including the Schools of Fine and Applied Arts, Domestic Science, and Science and Technology.

Pratt’s role in national efforts became evident during both World Wars. In World War I, it established the Student Army Training Corps and contributed engineering expertise to the war effort. One of its alumni, Donald A. Hall, designed the Spirit of St. Louis for Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight. By the late 1930s, Pratt had evolved from a technical school into a degree-granting institution, offering Bachelor of Science and graduate programmes. During World War II, the school continued its involvement in national defence, training servicemen and helping to develop military camouflage.

The 1950s and 1960s marked a period of physical transformation for the campus, driven in part by Robert Moses’ urban renewal initiatives. Streets around the scattered campus were closed to traffic, and the school consolidated its buildings into a unified enclosed campus. New facilities such as Dekalb Hall and the Information Science Center were built, and the School of Architecture received enhanced support. The changing demographics of Clinton Hill prompted internal debate about relocating, but Pratt remained committed to its Brooklyn roots. In 1963, the institute established the Pratt Center for Community Development to support local revitalisation efforts.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the institute faced serious challenges. Crime and economic decline in Brooklyn led to falling enrollment and growing financial deficits. Safety concerns deterred prospective students and faculty. Still, the institute made history when Cyndi Meserve joined the men’s basketball team, becoming the first woman to play in NCAA men’s basketball. Architecture became the most popular major, overtaking engineering. Ahead of its centennial in 1987, the institute initiated campus renewal projects, but financial pressures ultimately led to the closure of its historic School of Engineering in 1993, a controversial decision that marked a turning point.

With the closure of the School of Engineering, Pratt redirected its focus toward the arts and design. Under President Thomas F. Schutte, the institute underwent a period of revival and expansion. Debt was reduced, enrollment increased, and several new residence halls were constructed to support a transition from commuter to residential life. The campus was enhanced with restoration projects, including the addition of the Pratt Institute Sculpture Park in 1999. Although alumnus Vincent A. Stabile donated $13 million hoping to revive the engineering school, the funds were used to build a residence hall. Partnerships with art colleges in New York and Delaware also helped strengthen academic offerings.

Today, Pratt Institute stands as one of the leading colleges for art, design, and architecture, maintaining its commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and creative education. The legacy of Charles Pratt's vision continues to shape its mission, blending technical training with artistic and intellectual growth. Through periods of challenge and change, the institute has remained a vital educational institution in Brooklyn, contributing to both local development and global creativity.

Some of the notable graduate programs at Pratt Institute include:

3-D Animation and Motion Arts, Digital Arts, MFA
Art and Design Education Combined Degree, BFA/MA
Art and Design Education, MA
Art Therapy and Creativity Development, MPS
Art Therapy and Creativity Development, MPS, Low Residency Program
Arts and Cultural Management, MPS
Communications Design, MFA
Dance/Movement Therapy, MS
Dance/Movement Therapy, MS, Low Residency Program
Data Analytics and Visualization, MS
Design Management, MPS
Facilities Management, MS
Fashion Collection + Communication, MFA
Fine Arts, MFA
Historic Preservation, MS
History of Art and Design, MA
History of Art and Design / Library and Information Science, MA/MS
Industrial Design, MID
Information Experience Design, MS
Interactive Arts, Digital Arts, MFA
Interior Design, MFA
Library and Information Science, MS
Master of Architecture (M.Arch/First Professional)
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
Master of Science in Architecture (Post Professional)
Master of Science in Urban Design (Post Professional)
Media Studies, MA
Museums and Digital Culture, MS
Packaging, Identities and Systems Design, MS
Photography, MFA
Real Estate Practice, MS
Sustainable Environmental Systems, MS
Urban and Community Planning, MS
Urban Placemaking and Management, MS
Writing, MFA

Popular Undergraduate courses include ;

2-D Animation, Digital Arts, BFA
3-D Animation and Motion Arts, Digital Arts, BFA
Architecture, BArch
Architecture, BArch, Morphology Concentration
Art + Technology, Digital Arts, BFA
Art and Design Education Combined Degree, BFA/MA
Art and Design Education, BFA
Communications Design, BFA (Emphasis in Graphic Design)
Communications Design, BFA (Emphasis in Illustration)
Construction Management, BPS
Critical and Visual Studies, BA
Fashion Design, BFA
Film, BFA
Fine Arts, BFA
Game Arts, BFA
Game Design and Interactive Media, AOS
Graphic Design, AOS
Graphic Design/Illustration, AAS
History of Art and Design, BA
History of Art and Design, BFA
Illustration, AOS
Industrial Design, BID
Interior Design, BFA
Painting/Drawing, AAS
Photography, BFA
Writing, BFA

The design studio is at the core of the educational experience at Pratt. The fashion school considers it a creative space and a community. The culture of the design studio is one of creativity, experimentation, and exploration. To prepare students to become leaders in the creative community, Pratt Fashion access to Shima Seiki 3D knitting machines and Framis NOSO technology, as well as a dedicated Textile Research Library within the department.

Pratt has consistently been recognised for the quality of its academic programmes. According to the 2025 U.S. News and World Report, Pratt’s graduate programmes ranked #15 in Best Fine Arts, #11 in Painting/Drawing, #29 in Library and Information Studies, and #10 in Archives and Preservation. The undergraduate Bachelor of Architecture programme is regularly placed among the top fifteen in the U.S. by Architectural Record since 2000. 

Although it was previously recognised by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance for offering good value in private higher education, it was no longer included in their listings after 2019. Internationally, Pratt Institute holds a strong position in global rankings. In both 2023 and 2024, the QS World University Rankings placed Pratt sixth in the world for Art and Design, reaffirming its leadership and influence in creative education worldwide.

Pratt Institute students have strong career trajectories upon graduation. 91 percent of the class of 2022 secured employment or pursued further education within 12 months of graduation according to recent survey results. This success is attributed to the institute's Center for Career and Professional Development, which offers extensive support through career advice, job fairs, and internship programs.

A number of forward-looking companies hired recent Pratt graduates, including: Amazon, Apple, Dreamworks, Google, Meta, Nickelodeon, Oscar de la Renta, Penguin Random House, Pepsico, Sesame Workshop, Sony, The Met, and West Elm. 
Among students who completed internships, 88 percent felt these experiences effectively prepared them for full-time roles.
 

The Center for Career and Professional Development actively supports students’ professional growth, conducting over 1,200 career advising appointments annually. Over the course of the 2022-23 academic year, 1,614 students participated in CCPD’s career fairs, connecting with 212 employers who attended campus career events. Pratt’s Handshake job board featured 1,570 relevant job opportunities, allowing students to discover potential employers. 

Successful alumni include fashion designers Jeremy Scott, creative director of Moschino and owner of his namesake label. Since launching his brand in Paris in 1997, Scott has built a reputation as “pop culture’s most irreverent designer”. Alumnus Betsey Johnson has over sixty stores, including stores in London, Tokyo, and Toronto. These graduates exemplify the creative spirit that Pratt instils in its students. Their accomplishments showcase how the institute’s rigorous programs and emphasis on pushing creative boundaries prepare graduates for influential careers in global fashion.

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