2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Montana

[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fine & studio arts students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Montana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
The University Of Montana tops our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools in Montana. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,187 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $22,149 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,187 median debt. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Montana State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $32,265 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
More Fine & Studio Arts Rankings
View All Fine & Studio Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 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.