by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 242 schools to find the best return on investment for fine & studio arts students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine & studio arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of Dupage tops our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Sinclair Community College one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $12,525. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Delta College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,880. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $14,075. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Delta College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Schoolcraft College earned it the #4 place for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #6 position 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, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $22,750. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $27,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Southeast ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. 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, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,942 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $31,194. Set against $18,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #8 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $10,388. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Saint Xavier University came in at #9 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. 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. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #10 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,319 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $31,367. That is a strong return on a $19,319 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University earned the #11 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $26,196 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $21,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northern Illinois University placed #13 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,781 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $26,795. That is a strong return on a $25,781 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $21,128 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $27,114. Set against $21,128 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University South Bend placed #15 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,295 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Indiana University South Bend earn a median of $23,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,295 median debt. Indiana University South Bend admits about 84% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #16 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Students borrow a median of $20,319 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $30,845. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Parkside ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, with out-of-state students paying around $17,429. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,485 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,365. That is a strong return on a $24,485 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #18 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, with out-of-state students paying around $22,907. Students borrow a median of $22,637 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $28,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,637 median debt. University Of Southern Indiana admits about 96% of applicants.
Youngstown State University landed the #19 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $29,203. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Grand Rapids Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,780 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $41,689 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Illinois University placed #21 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #22 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $19,500. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $33,265. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, while out-of-state students pay about $17,288. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $24,477. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn a median of $42,853 early in their careers. Set against $24,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University landed the #24 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne placed #25 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,887 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,873 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earn a median of $27,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fine & studio arts:
The ranking above is published 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 · 242 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 70 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.