2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value art education schools.
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2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains 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
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among art education schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Students borrow a median of $13,680 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $42,094 early in their careers. Set against $13,680 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Idaho admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Utah Valley University earned it the #2 place for art education. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $18,715. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $49,297. Set against $18,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Casper College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Casper, Casper College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,410, with out-of-state students paying around $10,710. Art Education graduates carry a median of $12,598 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $49,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Weber State University one of the best values for art education. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $50,600 early in their careers. Set against $26,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Utah University earned it the #5 place for art education. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $45,042. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Wyoming earned the #6 position for value in art education this year. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, with out-of-state students paying around $24,178. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $18,500. Art Education graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $49,587 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,124, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn a median of $41,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Montana State University Billings came in at #8 for value in art education this year. Set in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,280, compared with $22,897 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,465 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Montana State University Billings generally make around $39,422. That is a strong return on a $25,465 median debt.
The University Of Montana Western earned the #9 position for value in art education this year. Set in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,669, compared with $20,130 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,557 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from The University Of Montana Western generally make around $38,151. Set against $22,557 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana Western admits about 100% of applicants.
Boise State University came in at #10 for value in art education this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $24,440. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $52,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,190 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $41,444 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design earn a median of $30,115 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
