by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 108 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value fine & studio arts schools.
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.
For return on investment in fine & studio arts, no school beat Community College Of Rhode Island this year. Set in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $14,834. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $10,250. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $18,544. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Williams College, which ranked #2. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,560. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Bristol Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fall River. Students from in state pay about $5,832 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,776. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $9,482 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $37,897. That is a strong return on a $9,482 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Rhode Island College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,299 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $23,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $28,241 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Bunker Hill Community College landed the #6 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,893 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. Set against $11,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Springfield Technical Community College landed the #7 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,904, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,707. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Springfield Technical Community College earn a median of $42,457 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Capital Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $12,059. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $22,100 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,059 median debt.
Amherst College placed #9 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. In-state tuition and fees average $70,480. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $59,271. Set against $15,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Amherst College admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Southern Maine ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $18,703. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $21,058 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $29,595 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Holyoke Community College earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, compared with $10,932 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,763. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. That is a strong return on a $9,763 median debt.
Framingham State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,920, compared with $18,000 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,843. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston earned the #14 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $36,980. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Maine earned the #15 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,050. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Set against $27,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #16 for value in fine & studio arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $36,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University came in at #17 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,179, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $33,440. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Bowdoin College placed #18 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,832 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $20,658. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $58,938. Set against $20,658 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island placed #19 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Students borrow a median of $16,625 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $21,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Keene State College came in at #20 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,784, compared with $26,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $31,390. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Connecticut State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willimantic. Students from in state pay about $13,928 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $22,250. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $23,534 early in their careers. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Vermont placed #22 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,500. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $24,497 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. University Of Vermont admits about 65% of applicants.
University Of Connecticut ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $24,419. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Western Connecticut State University landed the #24 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,332 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $47,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Connecticut State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Plymouth State University came in at #25 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $30,491. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine & studio arts value ranking:
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 · 108 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.