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Best Schools for Fine Arts in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall fine arts education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in Fine Arts
Our analysis ranked Illinois State University the best school in the country for a degree in fine arts. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 21 fine arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,967 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Illinois State University
University Of Notre Dame came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 13 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $69,494 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of Notre Dame
University Of Wisconsin Madison is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine arts, ranking #3. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 62 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $30,719 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $19,316 in student loans.
Get the full fine arts details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #4 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 41 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $33,265. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
See the full fine arts program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 11 fine arts degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $58,568 in their early career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Loyola University Chicago
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $27,114 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,128 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 29 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $28,669 early in their careers. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $21,356 in student loans.
Read more about the fine arts program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #8 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 14 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $30,077 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,821 to complete this degree.
See the full fine arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Stout
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #9 among the best fine arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 91 fine arts degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $27,595 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,750.
See the full fine arts program report for Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Northern Illinois University landed the #10 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Illinois University awarded about 61 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $26,795. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,781 in student loans.
See the full fine arts program report for Northern Illinois University
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #11 spot for fine arts this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 37 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $21,954. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
See the full fine arts program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for fine arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 48 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $31,128 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full fine arts program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Cedarville University earned the #13 position for fine arts this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 10 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $57,104 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Cedarville University
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for fine arts this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 34 fine arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $29,756 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Ohio University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #15 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 70 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $29,431. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $28,943 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Grand Valley State University landed the #16 spot for fine arts this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Grand Valley State University awarded about 61 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $24,135. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full fine arts details for Grand Valley State University
Oberlin College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Oberlin College graduates 81% of students within six years. About 17 fine arts degrees were awarded at Oberlin College in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Oberlin College earn around $25,146 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
More information about a degree in fine arts from Oberlin College
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh came in at #18 for fine arts this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $38,585. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the fine arts program at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Michigan State University landed the #19 spot for fine arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Michigan State University earn around $19,566 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,875 to complete this degree.
See the full fine arts program report for Michigan State University
Columbia College Chicago earned the #20 position for fine arts this year. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 32 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $22,765 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full fine arts details for Columbia College Chicago
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #21 spot for fine arts this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 39 fine arts degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $33,285 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
Get the full fine arts details for Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Youngstown State University earned the #22 position for fine arts this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Youngstown State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 26 fine arts degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $29,203 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Read more about the fine arts program at Youngstown State University
Columbus College Of Art And Design ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best fine arts schools. Columbus College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbus. Columbus College Of Art And Design graduates 56% of students within six years. Columbus College Of Art And Design awarded about 12 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $25,751 in their early career. Columbus College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full fine arts details for Columbus College Of Art And Design
Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design landed the #24 spot for fine arts this year. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design awarded about 47 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earn a median of $20,762 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full fine arts details for Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design
Otterbein University landed the #25 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 12 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Otterbein University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $45,871 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,282.
Get the full fine arts details for Otterbein University
Rest of the Top 37 Fine Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong fine arts education:
Narrow Fine Arts Schools by State
