2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine & studio arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 83 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fine & studio arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
For return on investment in fine & studio arts, no school beat Indiana University Northwest this year. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,434. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest generally make around $48,925. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Northwest admits about 73% of applicants.
Schoolcraft College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $15,677. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Set against $15,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lansing Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,700. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Southeast one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $18,942. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast generally make around $31,194. That is a strong return on a $18,942 median debt. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #6 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,319 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,367 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,319 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #7 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delta College placed #8 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Delta College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
Ferris State University placed #9 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #10 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $21,954. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Saint Xavier University earned the #11 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,735. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $51,753 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #12 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $27,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Parkland College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,284, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,409. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,091 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,289. That is a strong return on a $28,091 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Grand Rapids Community College landed the #15 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,780 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $41,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland University earned the #16 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $22,840 early in their careers. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #17 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,891. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Indiana University South Bend earned the #18 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $25,295 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Indiana University South Bend generally make around $23,308. That is a strong return on a $25,295 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago came in at #19 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Governors State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University placed #21 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,781 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $26,795. Set against $25,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #22 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $21,356 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $28,669. Set against $21,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University earned the #23 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,959 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $53,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Southern Indiana ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $22,637 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $28,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #25 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $21,128 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $27,114 early in their careers. Set against $21,128 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for fine & studio arts this year:
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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 · 83 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 83 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.
