2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Illinois
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 72 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fine & studio arts students.
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2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine & studio arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Leading the list is College Of Dupage, our #1 best value for fine & studio arts in Illinois. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Southwestern Illinois College, which ranked #2. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Southwestern Illinois College generally make around $44,345. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Saint Xavier University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #3 spot 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. 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. That is a strong return on a $25,735 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Western Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #4 spot 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. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $26,196. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #5 place for fine & studio arts. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $21,954 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northern Illinois University placed #6 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,781 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $26,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #7 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,383, 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. That is a strong return on a $20,319 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #8 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $21,356. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,669. Set against $21,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #10 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,280 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $25,259. That is a strong return on a $27,280 median debt. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #11 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $33,285 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Illinois State University placed #13 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $35,967 early in their careers. Set against $20,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #14 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $16,290 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Columbia College Chicago earned the #15 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,088. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $22,765. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Lake Forest College placed #16 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,402 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,661. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $41,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,661 median debt. Lake Forest College admits about 57% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #17 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Students borrow a median of $26,999 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $27,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #18 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago earned the #19 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,623. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago earn a median of $24,253 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Fine & Studio Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 72 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
