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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools

78 Colleges in the United States
$23,664 Avg Student Debt
$63,013 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Master's Degree Badge [Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine & studio arts education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1469 schools to find the best return on investment for fine & studio arts students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools

1
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY

For return on investment in fine & studio arts, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $33,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 54%.

2
University Of Florida crest
University Of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,863. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $33,627. That is a strong return on a $16,863 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Lehman College earned it the #3 place for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,410, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,630. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $27,582 early in their careers. Set against $9,630 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.

4
Cuny City College crest
Cuny City College
New York, NY

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #4 place for fine & studio arts. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $15,849. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.

5

California State University Los Angeles came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,087 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $24,538. Set against $19,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.

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6

California State University Long Beach landed the #6 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,583. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $21,493 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.

7
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Students borrow a median of $20,222 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $30,765. Set against $20,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.

8

University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for fine & studio arts. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $32,650 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.

9

University Of California Los Angeles came in at #9 for value in fine & studio arts this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $21,220 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

10

University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #10 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $21,954 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.

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11

San Jose State University landed the #11 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.

12

Texas A And M University Commerce came in at #12 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, with out-of-state students paying around $22,326. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $54,201. Set against $23,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.

13

Arizona State University placed #13 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $23,395 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $34,424. Set against $23,395 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

14

Northern Illinois University landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,781. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $26,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.

15

The University Of Texas At San Antonio ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $23,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.

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16

Eastern Illinois University earned the #16 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $55,569. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.

17

University Of Georgia placed #17 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $21,947. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $18,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.

18

University Of Houston came in at #18 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $21,845. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $26,482 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,845 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.

19
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

Williams College earned the #19 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.

20

Indiana University Bloomington earned the #20 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $37,186. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.

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21

University Of California Davis placed #21 among the best values for fine & studio arts. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,061 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $42,782. That is a strong return on a $15,061 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

22

Brigham Young University Provo placed #22 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,656 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $34,241 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,656 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.

23

University Of North Texas ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $23,354. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.

24

Suny College At Buffalo landed the #24 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,653 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Suny College At Buffalo generally make around $24,041. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.

25

University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #25 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,316 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $30,934. That is a strong return on a $19,316 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine & studio arts value ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
University Of Kansas crest
University Of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
33
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
34
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO
35
36
37
Fontbonne University crest
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, MO
38
Suny At Albany crest
Suny At Albany
Albany, NY
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
50

Other Fine & Studio Arts Degree Levels

Explore the best-value fine & studio arts schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Fine & Studio Arts
Associate's Degrees in Fine & Studio Arts
Bachelor's Degrees in Fine & Studio Arts
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View All Fine & Studio Arts Rankings >

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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 · 1469 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 78 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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