2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in North Carolina
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine & studio arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 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 North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
For return on investment in fine & studio arts, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Students from in state pay about $8,994 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $14,600. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $24,005. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $18,745. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Haywood Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Clyde, Haywood Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,580, while out-of-state students pay about $8,724. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Haywood Community College generally make around $35,767.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned it the #4 place for fine & studio arts. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. In-state tuition and fees average $3,648, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn a median of $40,578 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at University Of North Carolina At Asheville, which ranked #5. University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Asheville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $23,942 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $23,504. That is a strong return on a $23,942 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Western Carolina University earned the #6 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $24,253. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University earned the #7 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $15,257. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Fayetteville State University came in at #8 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Fayetteville State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fayetteville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,353, with out-of-state students paying around $8,353. Students borrow a median of $27,497 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Fayetteville State University generally make around $16,454. Set against $27,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fayetteville State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $25,855. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Winston Salem State University came in at #10 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Students from in state pay about $6,126 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,782 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,653 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $43,969 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,653 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #11 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $30,577. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
East Carolina University came in at #12 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $21,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian State University landed the #13 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $21,985 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $22,120. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Davidson College landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,430 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 13%.
North Carolina Central University landed the #15 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $6,699, while out-of-state students pay about $19,735. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $21,980. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #16 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Students borrow a median of $26,672 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $43,497. That is a strong return on a $26,672 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Meredith College landed the #17 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,630. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,618. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Meredith College earn a median of $40,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,618 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University placed #18 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. Wake Forest University admits about 22% of applicants.
Duke University earned the #19 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,296 median debt. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
High Point University placed #20 among the best values for fine & studio arts. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,312. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $23,785. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. High Point University admits about 75% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
