
[Metal & Jewelry Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/metal-and-jewelry-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong metal & jewelry arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value metal & jewelry arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in metal & jewelry arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Rhode Island College earned the #1 spot for value among metal & jewelry arts schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $23,500. Early-career metal & jewelry arts graduates make about $28,241. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for metal & jewelry arts. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates carry a median of $19,319 in student loans. Early-career metal & jewelry arts graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in metal & jewelry arts will find it at Suny College At Buffalo, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $39,412 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Washington Seattle Campus one of the best values for metal & jewelry arts. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $13,667 to complete the metal & jewelry arts program here. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,667 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #5 place for metal & jewelry arts. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $25,919. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $22,837. That is a strong return on a $25,919 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for value in metal & jewelry arts this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, compared with $22,696 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,683 to complete the metal & jewelry arts program here. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $23,428 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,683 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #7 among the best values for metal & jewelry arts. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $28,850. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $44,294. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design placed #8 among the best values for metal & jewelry arts. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,400, while out-of-state students pay about $43,400. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $26,000. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn a median of $21,461 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.
Cleveland Institute Of Art earned the #9 position for value in metal & jewelry arts this year. Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,700. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Art earn a median of $20,535 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Arcadia University earned the #10 position for value in metal & jewelry arts this year. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,610. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates carry a median of $26,975 in student loans. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $22,389 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value metal & jewelry arts schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. That is a strong return on a $27,491 median debt. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Maine College Of Art ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value metal & jewelry arts schools. Located in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,942. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the metal & jewelry arts program here. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from Maine College Of Art generally make around $24,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Syracuse University landed the #13 spot for metal & jewelry arts value this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the metal & jewelry arts program here. Early-career metal & jewelry arts graduates make about $54,785. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
Academy Of Art University landed the #14 spot for metal & jewelry arts value this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $41,870. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from Academy Of Art University generally make around $50,953. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island School Of Design earned the #15 position for value in metal & jewelry arts this year. Set in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $16,510. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
California College Of The Arts earned the #16 position for value in metal & jewelry arts this year. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,226. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete the metal & jewelry arts program here. Soon after graduation, metal & jewelry arts degree recipients from California College Of The Arts generally make around $17,690. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Metal & Jewelry Arts rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.