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2026 Best Value Painting Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the painting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Painting Schools
University Of Washington Seattle Campus tops our 2026 list of the best value painting schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $13,667. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Puget Sound one of the best values for painting. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,898. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $26,345. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from University Of Puget Sound generally make around $28,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Puget Sound admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pacific Northwest College Of Art earned it the #3 place for painting. Set in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,006. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Painting graduates of Pacific Northwest College Of Art earn a median of $27,350 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
California College Of The Arts came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value painting schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,226. Painting graduates carry a median of $29,250 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $21,093. Set against $29,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Painting Schools by State
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[Painting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/painting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
