2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in the New England Region
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 26 schools to find the best return on investment for art education students.
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2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the art education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Art Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Rhode Island College the best value for a degree in art education in the New England Region. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Students borrow a median of $29,659 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $51,124. That is a strong return on a $29,659 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $60,212. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
A rank of #3 makes Framingham State University one of the best values for art education. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. Students from in state pay about $11,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,000 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $25,872 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $62,819. That is a strong return on a $25,872 median debt. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Maine earned it the #4 place for art education. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Art Education graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $34,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bridgewater State University earned it the #5 place for art education. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,072 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Salem State University earned the #6 position for value in art education this year. Set in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,338, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $49,656 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Maine came in at #7 for value in art education this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $42,428. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Vermont landed the #8 spot for art education value this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,058, with out-of-state students paying around $45,502. Art Education graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $41,099. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Plymouth State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Set in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,626, compared with $25,566 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 $46,850. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Southern Connecticut State University earned the #10 position for value in art education this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $24,875. Early-career art education graduates make about $44,455. Set against $24,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Connecticut State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design placed #11 among the best values for art education. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,400, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $39,251. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Gordon College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Wenham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,700. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Gordon College earn a median of $37,097 early in their careers. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University came in at #13 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Art Education graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $67,277. That is a strong return on a $25,125 median debt. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Maine College Of Art came in at #14 for value in art education this year. Set in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,942. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $27,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $27,837. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Rhode Island School Of Design came in at #15 for value in art education this year. Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,943. Art Education graduates of Rhode Island School Of Design earn a median of $29,894 early in their careers. Set against $26,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
