by our College Data Analytics Team
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for art history students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is University Of Nebraska At Omaha, our #1 best value for art history in Nebraska. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $26,202 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $28,942. Set against $26,202 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned it the #2 place for art history. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $28,783. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Hastings College one of the best values for art history. Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hastings. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,770. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $24,125. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Hastings College generally make around $42,417. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.