[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 285 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value art history schools.
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for art history in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the best values for art history. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $22,788 early in their careers. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
California State University Fullerton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #3 spot this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $16,448. Art History graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $22,839 early in their careers. Set against $16,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at Cuny City College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $15,849. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $24,742. That is a strong return on a $15,849 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for art history. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $22,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College placed #6 among the best values for art history. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $9,630 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $27,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Florida earned the #7 position for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,863 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $23,793 early in their careers. Set against $16,863 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
California State University Dominguez Hills landed the #8 spot for art history value this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,454, while out-of-state students pay about $20,054. Art History graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $52,683. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #9 spot for art history value this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Art History graduates carry a median of $19,319 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $31,367. That is a strong return on a $19,319 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill placed #10 among the best values for art history. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Art History graduates carry a median of $14,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $24,005. That is a strong return on a $14,600 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College earned the #11 position for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $12,818 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $24,910. That is a strong return on a $12,818 median debt. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Florida State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Art History graduates carry a median of $20,222 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $26,785. That is a strong return on a $20,222 median debt. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento came in at #13 for value in art history this year. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,018, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Art History graduates carry a median of $15,879 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $20,203. That is a strong return on a $15,879 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Long Beach ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $16,583 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $21,493. That is a strong return on a $16,583 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of California Los Angeles ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Art History graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $21,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #16 for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $22,500. Art History graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $24,818 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Stanford University came in at #17 for value in art history this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $100,827. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
California State University Stanislaus earned the #18 position for value in art history this year. Set in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,242 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,842. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $46,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
California State University San Bernardino placed #19 among the best values for art history. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $42,421. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $17,687. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. Set against $17,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Channel Islands landed the #21 spot for art history value this year. Located in the rural area of Camarillo, California State University Channel Islands is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,159, with out-of-state students paying around $19,759. Art History graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from California State University Channel Islands generally make around $22,129. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. California State University Channel Islands admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of California San Diego came in at #22 for value in art history this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $15,218 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $21,777 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,218 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Florida International University placed #23 among the best values for art history. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Art History graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $22,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #24 for value in art history this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #25 position for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,667 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $25,947 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,667 median debt. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Art History Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for art history this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 285 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 285 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).
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
