2027 Best Value Costume Design Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Costume Design](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/drama-and-theater-arts/costume-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for costume design students.
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2027 Best Value Costume Design Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the costume design degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Costume Design Schools
Southern Oregon University earned the #1 spot for value among costume design schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, while out-of-state students pay about $31,887. Costume Design graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, costume design degree recipients from Southern Oregon University generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Oregon University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in costume design will find it at Stephens College, which ranked #2. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $28,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the costume design program here. Costume Design graduates of Stephens College earn a median of $16,476 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in costume design will find it at Webster University, which ranked #3. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,750. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the costume design program here. Soon after graduation, costume design degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $13,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Shenandoah University earned it the #4 place for costume design. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,950. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the costume design program here. Soon after graduation, costume design degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $62,948. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Bennington College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value costume design schools. Set in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $66,262 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,445 to complete the costume design program here. Early-career costume design graduates make about $16,579. Set against $26,445 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Carnegie Mellon University landed the #6 spot for costume design value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the costume design program here. Soon after graduation, costume design degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $32,967. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Marymount Manhattan College earned the #7 position for value in costume design this year. Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $41,870 in tuition and fees. Costume Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career costume design graduates make about $30,533. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marymount Manhattan College admits about 83% of applicants.
California Institute Of The Arts came in at #8 for value in costume design this year. Set in the suburb of Valencia, California Institute Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,996. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the costume design program here. Costume Design graduates of California Institute Of The Arts earn a median of $22,475 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 32%.
Other Costume Design Degree Levels
Explore the best-value costume design schools at other degree levels:
View All Costume Design Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
