2026 Best Value Other Fine Arts & Art Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Other Fine Arts & Art Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts-and-art-studies-other/) 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 31 schools to find the best return on investment for other fine arts & art studies students.
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2026 Best Value Other Fine Arts & Art Studies Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other fine arts & art studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Fine Arts & Art Studies Schools
For return on investment in other fine arts & art studies, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $28,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
A rank of #2 makes County College Of Morris one of the best values for other fine arts & art studies. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,210, with out-of-state students paying around $14,310. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of County College Of Morris earn a median of $33,881 early in their careers. Set against $9,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Westmoreland County Community College earned it the #3 place for other fine arts & art studies. Located in the suburb of Youngwood, Westmoreland County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,306, with out-of-state students paying around $14,728. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $37,439. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in other fine arts & art studies will find it at Swarthmore College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,494 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $19,500. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $66,971. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other fine arts & art studies will find it at University Of Maryland Baltimore County, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore County generally make around $23,879. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Cecil College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools. Located in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,640, with out-of-state students paying around $10,830. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,952 ten years after entry.
Fashion Institute Of Technology earned the #7 position for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,174, while out-of-state students pay about $22,696. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $18,342. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $23,428. That is a strong return on a $18,342 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Suny At Purchase College placed #8 among the best values for other fine arts & art studies. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,016, while out-of-state students pay about $19,266. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $23,850. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Suny At Purchase College earn a median of $23,182 early in their careers. Set against $23,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Adelphi University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools. Set in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $48,775. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $17,155. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University landed the #10 spot for other fine arts & art studies value this year. 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, compared with $38,805 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $24,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #12 among the best values for other fine arts & art studies. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $21,500. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $32,597. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University came in at #13 for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $17,153 in student loans. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,153 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Skidmore College earned the #14 position for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,140. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from Skidmore College generally make around $30,480. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Skidmore College admits about 21% of applicants.
New York University placed #15 among the best values for other fine arts & art studies. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $33,506. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
George Washington University earned the #16 position for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $22,910. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $73,749. That is a strong return on a $22,910 median debt. George Washington University admits about 47% of applicants.
Maryland Institute College Of Art landed the #17 spot for other fine arts & art studies value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,800 in tuition and fees. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $25,693 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University placed #18 among the best values for other fine arts & art studies. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $24,495. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $35,929 early in their careers. Set against $24,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
