2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Pennsylvania
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine & studio arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value fine & studio arts schools.
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2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Pennsylvania
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
For return on investment in fine & studio arts, no school beat Bucks County Community College this year. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. Set against $13,068 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montgomery County Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Montgomery County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Blue Bell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,690, compared with $17,250 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,641 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Montgomery County Community College earn a median of $19,024 early in their careers. Set against $13,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Schnecksville, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $14,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Lehigh Carbon Community College generally make around $39,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, compared with $15,270 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. Set against $18,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, with out-of-state students paying around $16,297. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $25,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $29,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Reading Area Community College placed #7 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,480, with out-of-state students paying around $12,510. Students borrow a median of $13,979 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Reading Area Community College earn a median of $49,248 early in their careers. Set against $13,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Allegheny County ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $12,583. Students borrow a median of $15,263 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Community College Of Allegheny County generally make around $47,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania Western University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $28,263. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $37,242. Set against $28,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Community College Of Philadelphia ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Community College Of Philadelphia is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,632, while out-of-state students pay about $12,744. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $13,926. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Community College Of Philadelphia earn a median of $37,988 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,926 median debt.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $44,294. Set against $28,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,990. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Swarthmore College landed the #13 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $19,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Swarthmore College earn a median of $66,971 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Swarthmore College admits about 8% of applicants.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $19,413. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,258. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania placed #16 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,570, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $25,269. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College landed the #17 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,240. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,195. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. Set against $26,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Messiah College admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania landed the #18 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,686. Students borrow a median of $23,359 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $34,619. That is a strong return on a $23,359 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Temple University placed #19 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $24,558. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne placed #20 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Langhorne. Students from in state pay about $33,659 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,212 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne generally make around $40,120. That is a strong return on a $28,212 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Saint Josephs University came in at #21 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $65,421. Set against $26,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Josephs University admits about 89% of applicants.
Chatham University landed the #22 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,001. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,261 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Chatham University generally make around $61,339. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Chatham University admits about 62% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,477 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $26,709. That is a strong return on a $23,477 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Arcadia University placed #24 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,610. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $22,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #25 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $53,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn a median of $26,472 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary admits about 54% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine & studio arts value ranking:
More Fine & Studio Arts Rankings
View All Fine & Studio Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 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.
