2026 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in Minnesota
[Fine Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fine arts students.
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2026 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
For return on investment in fine arts, no school beat University Of Minnesota Morris this year. University Of Minnesota Morris is a small public school located in the town of Morris. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,526, with out-of-state students paying around $16,710. Students borrow a median of $19,797 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Morris earn a median of $44,479 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,797 median debt. University Of Minnesota Morris admits about 75% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $30,521 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in fine arts will find it at University Of Minnesota Duluth, which ranked #3. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $24,624. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $25,660 early in their careers. Set against $24,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $38,717. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #5 makes Minneapolis College Of Art And Design one of the best values for fine arts. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $45,484. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $19,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design admits about 48% of applicants.
Carleton College earned the #6 position for value in fine arts this year. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,892. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. Set against $17,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College placed #7 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,104 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $22,147. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $42,517. That is a strong return on a $22,147 median debt. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
