2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Ohio
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
Sinclair Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools in Ohio. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Youngstown State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $29,203. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $26,849 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $29,186. That is a strong return on a $26,849 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #4 place for fine & studio arts. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $23,352. Set against $27,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Students borrow a median of $29,259 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $22,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Toledo ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $21,392. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Shawnee State University came in at #7 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Portsmouth. Students from in state pay about $9,448 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,032. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $19,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #8 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $28,501. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $19,138 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,501 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $29,756. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $31,128 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Otterbein University earned the #11 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,548. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,282. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Otterbein University generally make around $45,871. Set against $25,282 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $28,943 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $29,431. That is a strong return on a $28,943 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Cedarville University placed #13 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $22,110. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
The College Of Wooster placed #14 among the best values for fine & studio arts. The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Wooster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,640. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from The College Of Wooster generally make around $32,382. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The College Of Wooster admits about 60% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford earned the #15 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,912. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Kenyon College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $71,520. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $23,082 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Columbus College Of Art And Design ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,825. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Columbus College Of Art And Design generally make around $25,751. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Art Academy Of Cincinnati came in at #18 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Art Academy Of Cincinnati is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,007. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Art Academy Of Cincinnati generally make around $13,252. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
Oberlin College landed the #19 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,366 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $20,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Oberlin College earn a median of $25,146 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oberlin College admits about 34% of applicants.
Cleveland Institute Of Art ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,700. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cleveland Institute Of Art generally make around $18,839. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 59 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
[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.
