2026 Best Value Art History Schools in Missouri
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for art history students.
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2026 Best Value Art History Schools in Missouri
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art History Schools
For return on investment in art history, no school beat University Of Missouri Kansas City this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Art History graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $25,476. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,750. Early-career art history graduates make about $24,024. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Lindenwood University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value art history schools. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $28,663. Art History graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $48,197 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #4 place for art history. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $17,553. Early-career art history graduates make about $68,303. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Webster University earned it the #5 place for art history. Webster University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $25,939. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $57,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas City Art Institute earned the #6 position for value in art history this year. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,550. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,000. Early-career art history graduates make about $22,906. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kansas City Art Institute admits about 55% of applicants.
More Art History Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
