2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 57 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value fine & studio arts schools.
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2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Snow College earned the #1 spot for value among fine & studio arts schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Brigham Young University Idaho earned it the #2 place for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Students borrow a median of $14,405 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $25,081 early in their careers. Set against $14,405 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Weber State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,557, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Weber State University generally make around $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wyoming earned it the #4 place for fine & studio arts. University Of Wyoming is a large public school located in the town of Laramie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,768, while out-of-state students pay about $24,178. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $15,880 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $27,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,880 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
A rank of #5 makes Utah State University one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Students from in state pay about $8,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $33,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Utah ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,506 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $33,081 early in their careers. Set against $23,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Southern Utah University came in at #7 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,962, while out-of-state students pay about $21,192. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $12,886. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $44,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Idaho ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,239 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $22,617. Set against $25,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #9 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $16,656 in student loans. 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%.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver came in at #10 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,124 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,684. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $26,102. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Dixie State College Of Utah placed #11 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Dixie State College Of Utah earn a median of $23,524 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
Mesa State College earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,927 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $22,310. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $27,136. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Western State College Of Colorado came in at #13 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318, while out-of-state students pay about $24,434. Students borrow a median of $23,455 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Western State College Of Colorado generally make around $36,712. Set against $23,455 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western State College Of Colorado admits about 100% of applicants.
Idaho State University landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $24,640. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,640 median debt.
The University Of Montana came in at #15 for value in fine & studio arts this year. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,187. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $22,149. Set against $26,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Northern Colorado landed the #16 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. University Of Northern Colorado is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. In-state tuition and fees average $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $40,026. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Fort Lewis College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Durango. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,526 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $22,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #18 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,383, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Students borrow a median of $25,490 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $31,144 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,490 median debt. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $30,143. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Montana State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $32,265. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $17,501 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado College came in at #22 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $37,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado College admits about 18% of applicants.
University Of Denver placed #23 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,398 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $36,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 57 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
