2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in Tennessee
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for fine arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 best value for fine arts in Tennessee. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee Technological University earned it the #2 place for fine arts. Set in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $13,935. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $19,231. That is a strong return on a $13,935 median debt. Tennessee Technological University admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lee University earned it the #3 place for fine arts. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $29,750. Fine Arts graduates of Lee University earn a median of $26,598 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Tennessee one of the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,812, with out-of-state students paying around $33,256. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $23,661 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Sewanee The University Of The South is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,120 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,091 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $36,927 early in their careers. Set against $22,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Sewanee The University Of The South admits about 57% of applicants.
Belmont University earned the #6 position for value in fine arts this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,540. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $23,447. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $49,699. That is a strong return on a $23,447 median debt. Belmont University admits about 95% of applicants.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
