2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in Massachusetts

[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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value fine arts schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
Our analysis ranked Bristol Community College the best value for a degree in fine arts in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,832, while out-of-state students pay about $10,776. Students borrow a median of $9,482 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $37,897 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harvard University earned it the #2 place for fine arts. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,734 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $29,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $54,669. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $18,072 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Wellesley College landed the #6 spot for fine arts value this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,176. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $11,075. Fine Arts graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wellesley College admits about 14% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #7 spot for fine arts value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,400, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn a median of $38,090 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Mount Holyoke College placed #8 among the best values for fine arts. Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hadley. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $23,447. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $18,420. Set against $23,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Smith College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,178. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $20,171. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Clark University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,467. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $26,870 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $43,257. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Clark University admits about 40% of applicants.
Suffolk University placed #11 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,550 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,670. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $57,261. Set against $26,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Massachusetts earned the #12 position for value in fine arts this year. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,960. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,117. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Wheaton College Massachusetts generally make around $28,574. That is a strong return on a $26,117 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Lesley University placed #13 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,256. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $24,833 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $47,058. That is a strong return on a $24,833 median debt. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
Brandeis University placed #14 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,080. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $25,653. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $47,783. That is a strong return on a $25,653 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Boston College came in at #15 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston College admits about 16% of applicants.
View All Fine Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.