2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in North Carolina
[Fine Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value fine arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $14,600. Fine Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $24,005 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,600 median debt. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $18,745 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in fine arts will find it at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,000. Fine Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $40,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $23,942 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $23,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Carolina University earned it the #5 place for fine arts. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $24,253. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #6 position for value in fine arts this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $25,855. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University placed #7 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $21,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Appalachian State University earned the #8 position for value in fine arts this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $21,985 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $22,120. That is a strong return on a $21,985 median debt. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #9 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,152 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,672. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $43,497. That is a strong return on a $26,672 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Meredith College landed the #10 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,630. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,618. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $40,331. Set against $26,618 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Wake Forest University placed #11 among the best values for fine arts. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,642. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University earned the #12 position for value in fine arts this year. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
