2027 Best Value Art History Schools in New York
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools to find the best return on investment for art history students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Art History Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art History Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Hunter College the best value for a degree in art history in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $10,000. Early-career art history graduates make about $28,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for art history. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,452, 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. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #3 place for art history. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $9,630. Early-career art history graduates make about $27,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #4 place for art history. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Art History graduates carry a median of $15,849 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $24,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at Cuny Queens College, which ranked #5. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $15,488. Art History graduates carry a median of $12,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Cuny Queens College generally make around $24,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Cuny Queensborough Community College earned the #6 position for value in art history this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $10,052. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Cuny Queensborough Community College generally make around $16,739. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $9,500. Early-career art history graduates make about $13,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #8 spot for art history value this year. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, with out-of-state students paying around $19,653. Art History graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Art History graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $24,041 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Suny College At Brockport earned the #9 position for value in art history this year. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $39,724. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny At Albany earned the #10 position for value in art history this year. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,601, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $22,625. Early-career art history graduates make about $27,610. Set against $22,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Stony Brook University came in at #11 for value in art history this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $16,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #12 for value in art history this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $26,853 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $51,435 early in their careers. Set against $26,853 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo placed #13 among the best values for art history. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Art History graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Art History graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $24,370 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
State University Of New York At New Paltz placed #14 among the best values for art history. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,562 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $18,842. Set against $23,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
Suny At Binghamton ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,567, while out-of-state students pay about $30,447. Art History graduates carry a median of $22,286 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $25,751. That is a strong return on a $22,286 median debt. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Suny At Purchase College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Located in the suburb of Purchase, Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $23,850 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $14,984. Set against $23,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Cornell University landed the #17 spot for art history value this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $17,153. Early-career art history graduates make about $31,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Barnard College landed the #18 spot for art history value this year. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,888. Art History graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $39,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hamilton College came in at #19 for value in art history this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,960. Art History graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $48,806. Set against $16,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hamilton College admits about 14% of applicants.
Alfred University earned the #20 position for value in art history this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Alfred University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,138. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,000. Early-career art history graduates make about $46,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Alfred University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Rochester earned the #21 position for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $60,865. That is a strong return on a $21,517 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Pace University New York landed the #22 spot for art history value this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,510. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $25,656. Early-career art history graduates make about $22,789. That is a strong return on a $25,656 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Hartwick College came in at #23 for value in art history this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Hartwick College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,962. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $25,740. Art History graduates of Hartwick College earn a median of $41,061 early in their careers. Set against $25,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hartwick College admits about 70% of applicants.
Skidmore College placed #24 among the best values for art history. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,140. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $18,500. Art History graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $30,480 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Ithaca College came in at #25 for value in art history this year. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. In-state tuition and fees average $52,616. Students borrow a median of $24,517 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $38,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ithaca College admits about 69% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Art History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s art history value ranking:
More Art History Rankings
View All Art History Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 34 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.
