2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in Pennsylvania
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for art education students.
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2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art Education Schools
Leading the list is Holy Family University, our #1 best value for art education in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,330. Students borrow a median of $26,562 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $63,752. That is a strong return on a $26,562 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entry. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #3. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. Students from in state pay about $11,206 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $47,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
Carlow University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,874 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,222 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $66,938. Set against $30,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carlow University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seton Hill University earned it the #5 place for art education. Located in the suburb of Greensburg, Seton Hill University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,944. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,556. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Seton Hill University generally make around $53,485. That is a strong return on a $26,556 median debt. Seton Hill University admits about 80% of applicants.
Arcadia University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,921. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $60,164. Set against $26,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arcadia University admits about 80% of applicants.
Elizabethtown College landed the #7 spot for art education value this year. Set in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $57,397. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College landed the #8 spot for art education 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. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Messiah College earn a median of $50,825 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. 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 art education graduates is $26,000. Art Education graduates of Temple University earn a median of $54,736 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for art education. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Saint Josephs University came in at #11 for value in art education this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,426 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $55,186. Set against $26,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
More Art Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
