2027 Best Value Painting Schools in the New England Region
[Painting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/painting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong painting education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for painting students.
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2027 Best Value Painting Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in painting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Painting Schools
Our analysis ranked Rhode Island College the best value for a degree in painting in the New England Region. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Painting graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Painting graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $28,241 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in painting will find it at University Of Southern Maine, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $18,703. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $21,058. Set against $18,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a great value for students pursuing a degree in painting, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $23,214. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #4 makes Massachusetts College Of Art And Design one of the best values for painting. 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, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $38,090. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Boston University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in painting, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Painting graduates of Boston University earn a median of $27,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
University Of Hartford came in at #6 for value in painting this year. University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,075. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $34,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Montserrat College Of Art ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Set in the suburb of Beverly, Montserrat College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,690. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Early-career painting graduates make about $21,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Maine College Of Art earned the #8 position for value in painting this year. Located in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,942. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Maine College Of Art generally make around $27,255. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maine College Of Art admits about 76% of applicants.
Rhode Island School Of Design landed the #9 spot for painting value this year. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Rhode Island School Of Design generally make around $22,396. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
