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2026 Best Value Painting Schools in the United States
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 Houston earned the #1 spot for value among painting schools in the United States. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $9,717 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Painting graduates carry a median of $21,845 in student loans. Painting graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $26,482 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Suny College At Buffalo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in painting, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,533, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $23,000. Painting graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $24,041 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
State University Of New York At New Paltz is a great value for students pursuing a degree in painting, landing the #3 spot this year. State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of New Paltz. Students from in state pay about $8,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,822. Painting graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Painting graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $18,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
A rank of #4 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for painting. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Painting graduates carry a median of $23,374 in student loans. Painting graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $19,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in painting will find it at Washington University In St Louis, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the painting program here. Early-career painting graduates make about $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
ADBLOCK #101
Ohio University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for painting. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $26,000. Early-career painting graduates make about $30,459. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent placed #7 among the best values for painting. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $28,501. Early-career painting graduates make about $44,776. Set against $28,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design came in at #8 for value in painting this year. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the painting program here. Early-career painting graduates make about $54,719. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Alfred University landed the #9 spot for painting value this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Alfred University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,138. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $21,443. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Boston University came in at #10 for value in painting this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $37,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value painting schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,484. Painting graduates carry a median of $30,250 in student loans. Painting graduates of Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $24,218 early in their careers. Set against $30,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design admits about 48% of applicants.
Temple University landed the #12 spot for painting value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $26,000. Early-career painting graduates make about $27,007. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Maine College Of Art landed the #13 spot for painting value this year. Set in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,942. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Maine College Of Art generally make around $29,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art placed #14 among the best values for painting. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Painting graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $30,247 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Syracuse University landed the #15 spot for painting value this year. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Painting graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art landed the #16 spot for painting value this year. Located in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,006. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Painting graduates of Pacific Northwest College Of Art earn a median of $28,794 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
California College Of The Arts earned the #17 position for value in painting this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $60,226 in tuition and fees. Painting graduates carry a median of $29,250 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $24,495. That is a strong return on a $29,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Savannah College Of Art And Design placed #18 among the best values for painting. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,630. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Painting graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of $40,980 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts earned the #19 position for value in painting this year. Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,600. Painting graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $24,994. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rhode Island School Of Design ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value painting schools. Located in the city of Providence, Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career painting graduates make about $28,281. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
[Painting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/painting/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
