2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong art education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 87 schools to find the best return on investment for art education students.
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2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art Education Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among art education schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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. Art Education graduates carry a median of $17,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $58,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $47,755. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #3 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $19,500. Early-career art education graduates make about $44,923. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Indiana University Southeast is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #4 spot this year. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,981 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $43,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Xavier University one of the best values for art education. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $27,194. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $51,753. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Millikin University earned the #6 position for value in art education this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,936. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #7 spot for art education value this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Art Education graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Art Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $51,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University came in at #8 for value in art education this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,746 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $51,839. That is a strong return on a $26,746 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Indiana University South Bend earned the #9 position for value in art education this year. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $26,498 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,058. That is a strong return on a $26,498 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University placed #10 among the best values for art education. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $53,952. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #11 spot for art education value this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,532 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Art Education graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $43,576. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #12 spot for art education value this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $45,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #13 among the best values for art education. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $50,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Youngstown State University came in at #14 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,751. Art Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $33,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,751 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #15 position for value in art education this year. University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of River Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,008 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,470. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin River Falls earn a median of $43,296 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ball State University landed the #16 spot for art education value this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, compared with $29,630 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $24,998. Art Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $49,745 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned the #17 position for value in art education this year. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $63,267. Set against $26,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Wayne State University came in at #18 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
College Of Mount St Joseph came in at #19 for value in art education this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,150. Students borrow a median of $28,273 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of College Of Mount St Joseph earn a median of $69,964 early in their careers. Set against $28,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of Mount St Joseph admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #20 for value in art education this year. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. Students from in state pay about $14,236 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,077. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University placed #21 among the best values for art education. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $52,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $27,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $39,613. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of St Francis came in at #23 for value in art education this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,110. Art Education graduates carry a median of $25,695 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $70,918. Set against $25,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #24 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $27,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $45,966. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Alverno College placed #25 among the best values for art education. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Alverno College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,086. Art Education graduates carry a median of $34,425 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $55,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Art Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in art education:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 87 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 45 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.
