Fine & Studio Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 228 schools to find the best for fine & studio arts students.
DEBUG: Checking offer "Fine Arts (MFA) (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Fine Arts (MFA) (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 1
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 1 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 1
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 1 offers with relevance >= 0.8
Best Schools for Fine & Studio Arts in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fine & studio arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Stanford University tops our 2026 ranking of the best fine & studio arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 26 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fine & studio arts program at Stanford University
University Of California Santa Barbara is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,978.
Get the full fine & studio arts details for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 168 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $25,947 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,667 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine & studio arts, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $36,006. Students borrow a median of $19,198 to complete this degree.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #5 makes University Of San Diego one of the top schools for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of San Diego generally make around $68,281. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for University Of San Diego
University Of Southern California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 71 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $50,161. Students borrow a median of $21,125 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fine & studio arts program at University Of Southern California
San Jose State University earned the #7 position for fine & studio arts this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 211 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from San Jose State University
University Of California Los Angeles placed #8 among the best fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 142 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $21,220. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for University Of California Los Angeles
Chapman University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 11 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Chapman University earn around $50,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for Chapman University
University Of California Davis came in at #10 for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 76 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from University Of California Davis earn around $32,741 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,061 in student loans.
Get the full fine & studio arts details for University Of California Davis
Loyola Marymount University landed the #11 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 53 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $27,210 in their early career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $23,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Loyola Marymount University
Pepperdine University earned the #12 position for fine & studio arts this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 12 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $57,582 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,645 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Pepperdine University
California State University Fullerton earned the #13 position for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 442 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $41,350 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,448 to complete this degree.
Get the full fine & studio arts details for California State University Fullerton
University Of California Berkeley ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 118 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of California Berkeley in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $20,368 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,254 to complete this degree.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for University Of California Berkeley
California State University East Bay placed #15 among the best fine & studio arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. California State University East Bay awarded about 133 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from California State University East Bay earn around $33,220 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,625 to complete this degree.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for California State University East Bay
University Of California San Diego ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 58 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $21,777 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $15,218 in student loans.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for University Of California San Diego
California State University Dominguez Hills placed #17 among the best fine & studio arts schools. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 38 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete this degree.
See the full fine & studio arts program report for California State University Dominguez Hills
Whitman College placed #18 among the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit university. Whitman College graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Whitman College in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Whitman College earn a median of $32,345 early in their careers. Whitman College graduates carry a median of $17,518 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Whitman College
Scripps College landed the #19 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Scripps College awarded about 10 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the fine & studio arts program at Scripps College
California State University Northridge earned the #20 position for fine & studio arts this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 328 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $25,359. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full fine & studio arts details for California State University Northridge
Sonoma State University landed the #21 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 27 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $29,035 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,460 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fine & studio arts program at Sonoma State University
Western Washington University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 77 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $23,102. Students borrow a median of $21,246 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fine & studio arts program at Western Washington University
California State University Long Beach earned the #23 position for fine & studio arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. California State University Long Beach awarded about 434 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $21,493 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,583 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from California State University Long Beach
University Of California Irvine earned the #24 position for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 102 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $20,128. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $17,635 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from University Of California Irvine
California State University Sacramento earned the #25 position for fine & studio arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 73 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $20,203. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,879 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from California State University Sacramento
Rest of the Top 50 Fine & Studio Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s fine & studio arts ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 228 schools evaluated.
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).
