by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 697 schools to find the best return on investment for fine & studio arts students.
What’s on this page:
The fine & studio arts program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine & studio arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for fine & studio arts in the United States. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $10,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,185. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Princeton University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moorpark College earned it the #3 place for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $17,075. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Cuny Brooklyn College one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,452, with out-of-state students paying around $15,402. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $22,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Cuny Lehman College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, with out-of-state students paying around $15,360. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,630. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $27,582. That is a strong return on a $9,630 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny City College placed #6 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,849 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,742. Set against $15,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,087 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,538. Set against $19,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Skyline College landed the #8 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.
California State University Fullerton ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,448. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $41,350. That is a strong return on a $16,448 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Florida earned the #10 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,863. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,710. Set against $16,863 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Santa Monica College earned the #11 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Santiago Canyon College placed #12 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $5,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #13 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queens College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Cuny Queens College is a large public school located in the city of Queens. In-state tuition and fees average $7,538, compared with $15,488 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,818 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $24,910 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Oxnard College earned the #15 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
College Of The Canyons placed #16 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Northridge placed #17 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $25,359. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
West Valley College came in at #18 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Cuny Queensborough Community College landed the #19 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $10,052. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $16,739. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Irvine Valley College landed the #20 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $6,672 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,156. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma City Community College landed the #21 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $13,919. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $39,848. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College came in at #22 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
Cerritos College placed #23 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $11,306. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $29,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College earned the #24 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $8,575. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College placed #25 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fine & studio arts:
These schools also placed among the best values for fine & studio arts this year:
| Rank | College | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #101 | Bucks County Community College | Newtown, PA | Full Report |
| #102 | University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC | Full Report |
| #103 | University Of South Florida Main Campus | Tampa, FL | Full Report |
| #104 | Sacramento City College | Sacramento, CA | Full Report |
| #105 | Community College Of Rhode Island | Warwick, RI | Full Report |
These schools earned honorable mentions for value in fine & studio arts:
| Rank | College | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #131 | Reedley College | Reedley, CA | Full Report |
| #132 | American River College | Sacramento, CA | Full Report |
| #133 | Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale, VA | Full Report |
| #134 | Bunker Hill Community College | Boston, MA | Full Report |
| #135 | Hudson Valley Community College | Troy, NY | Full Report |
| #136 | Fresno City College | Fresno, CA | Full Report |
| #137 | University Of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA | Full Report |
| #138 | Chabot College | Hayward, CA | Full Report |
| #139 | Glendale Community College Glendale Ca | Glendale, CA | Full Report |
| #140 | University Of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL | Full Report |
Fine & Studio Arts is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Art/Art Studies, General | 14,771 |
| Fine/Studio Arts, General | 5,842 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | 1,175 |
| Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other | 369 |
| Drawing | 299 |
| Jewelry Arts | 68 |
| Intermedia/Multimedia | 67 |
| Ceramic Arts and Ceramics | 49 |
| Painting | 39 |
| Sculpture | 22 |
| Printmaking | 9 |
| Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts | 6 |
| Metal Arts | 1 |
View All Fine & Studio Arts Concentrations >
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 · 697 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 697 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.