by our College Data Analytics Team
[Art Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value art studies schools.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the art studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in art studies, no school beat Bristol Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,832 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $9,482 in student loans. Early-career art studies graduates make about $37,897. That is a strong return on a $9,482 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Community College Of Rhode Island one of the best values for art studies. Located in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,834 for out-of-state students. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $18,544 early in their careers. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rhode Island College earned it the #3 place for art studies. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $28,241 early in their careers. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mount Wachusett Community College earned it the #4 place for art studies. Set in the suburb of Gardner, Mount Wachusett Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,160, with out-of-state students paying around $11,080. Students borrow a median of $11,497 to complete the art studies program here. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Mount Wachusett Community College generally make around $43,883. Set against $11,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in art studies will find it at Capital Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, with out-of-state students paying around $15,596. Typical student debt for art studies graduates is $12,059. Early-career art studies graduates make about $43,086. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern Maine placed #6 among the best values for art studies. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $18,703 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $21,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
Framingham State University landed the #7 spot for art studies value this year. Set in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,000. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $28,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Westfield State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value art studies schools. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,179, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career art studies graduates make about $33,440. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Westfield State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Williams College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value art studies schools. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,560. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #10 spot for art studies value this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art studies program here. Art Studies graduates of University Of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of $36,980 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
Western Connecticut State University came in at #11 for value in art studies this year. Located in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,401, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $25,332 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Western Connecticut State University earn a median of $47,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,332 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Keene State College came in at #12 for value in art studies this year. Keene State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Keene. Students from in state pay about $14,784 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art studies graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Keene State College generally make around $31,390. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Keene State College admits about 90% of applicants.
Amherst College landed the #13 spot for art studies value this year. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Amherst College generally make around $59,271. That is a strong return on a $15,398 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island earned the #14 position for value in art studies this year. Set in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $16,625 in student loans. Early-career art studies graduates make about $21,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Vermont Technical College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value art studies schools. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,952, compared with $22,296 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,208 to complete the art studies program here. Art Studies graduates of Vermont Technical College earn a median of $30,233 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vermont Technical College admits about 82% of applicants.
Plymouth State University came in at #16 for value in art studies this year. Set in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, while out-of-state students pay about $25,566. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career art studies graduates make about $44,487. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #17 position for value in art studies this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the art studies program here. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $24,521. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus came in at #18 for value in art studies this year. Set in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,202, compared with $39,852 for out-of-state students. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $26,368 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of $52,064 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
Brown University landed the #19 spot for art studies value this year. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,312. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $17,300 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Brown University earn a median of $23,180 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Boston University came in at #20 for value in art studies this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical student debt for art studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career art studies graduates make about $27,226. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Hampshire College came in at #21 for value in art studies this year. Hampshire College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $58,896. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Hampshire College earn a median of $21,113 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lesley University earned the #22 position for value in art studies this year. Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $34,256 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,833 to complete the art studies program here. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $47,058. Set against $24,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University came in at #23 for value in art studies this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $25,601 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Sacred Heart University earned the #24 position for value in art studies this year. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $50,404. Typical student debt for art studies graduates is $25,831. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $62,864. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.