2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for fine arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
For return on investment in fine arts, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $14,405 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $25,081. Set against $14,405 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
College Of Western Idaho came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
A rank of #3 makes Weber State University one of the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,557, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $19,176. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Utah University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $44,998 early in their careers. Set against $12,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Colorado Denver earned it the #5 place for fine arts. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $25,490 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $31,144. That is a strong return on a $25,490 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Arapahoe Community College earned the #6 position for value in fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $20,448 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $47,579. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wyoming ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $15,880 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $27,156. Set against $15,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wyoming admits about 97% of applicants.
Front Range Community College landed the #8 spot for fine arts value this year. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,663, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $40,414 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Idaho placed #9 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Students borrow a median of $25,239 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $22,617. Set against $25,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $16,656 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $34,241. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #11 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $26,102. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Dixie State College Of Utah came in at #12 for value in fine arts this year. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $18,246. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $23,524 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western State College Of Colorado placed #13 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,434. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $23,455. Fine Arts graduates of Western State College Of Colorado earn a median of $36,712 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western State College Of Colorado admits about 100% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College came in at #14 for value in fine arts this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $16,500. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $22,754. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $40,026. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #16 for value in fine arts this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $30,143. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Colorado Boulder earned the #17 position for value in fine arts this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Students from in state pay about $15,214 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $17,501 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Colorado College came in at #18 for value in fine arts this year. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,734. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $17,921. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $37,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
