2026 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for fine arts in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $22,788. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #2 place for fine arts. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $16,448. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $22,839. That is a strong return on a $16,448 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in fine arts will find it at Cuny Brooklyn College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,402 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $12,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $22,633. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $15,849 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of $24,742 early in their careers. 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 fine arts will find it at Cuny Lehman College, which ranked #5. 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. Students borrow a median of $9,630 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $27,582. Set against $9,630 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $16,863 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $23,793. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Queens College placed #7 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $12,818 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $24,910 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $19,087. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $24,538 early in their careers. Set against $19,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University Northridge ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $15,000. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $25,359 early in their careers. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach landed the #10 spot for fine arts value this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $16,583. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $21,493 early in their careers. Set against $16,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University placed #11 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $14,750 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $28,726 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Texas A And M International University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $14,672. Fine Arts graduates of Texas A And M International University earn a median of $19,300 early in their careers. Set against $14,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #13 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,490 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $14,688. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $51,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Stanislaus landed the #14 spot for fine arts value this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. Students from in state pay about $8,242 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,842. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $15,750. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University Stanislaus generally make around $21,288. That is a strong return on a $15,750 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #15 position for value in fine arts this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,088, while out-of-state students pay about $20,688. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $14,447 early in their careers. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Northern Kentucky University came in at #16 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $25,724 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $31,448 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University landed the #17 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Florida State University placed #18 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,222 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $26,785 early in their careers. Set against $20,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Morris placed #19 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the town of Morris, University Of Minnesota Morris is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $19,797. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $44,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #20 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $17,687 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $21,891 early in their careers. Set against $17,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento landed the #21 spot for fine arts value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,018 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,618. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $15,879. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $20,203. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The University Of West Florida ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value fine arts schools. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $23,843. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #23 position for value in fine arts this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $24,818 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
California State University East Bay ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,583, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $16,625. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $33,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Central Florida placed #25 among the best values for fine arts. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $22,036 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $23,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine arts value ranking:
Other Fine Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best-value fine arts schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 749 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 228 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.
[Fine Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine arts education at a price that pays off.
