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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Illinois

17 Colleges in the United States
1,544 Fine & Studio Arts Degrees Awarded
$35,806 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 72 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fine & studio arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Fine & Studio Arts in Illinois

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.

Top Schools in Fine & Studio Arts

1

Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 school for fine & studio arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 23 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from University Of Chicago

2

Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine & studio arts, ranking #2. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 98 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,967 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,125 to complete this degree. See the full fine & studio arts program report for Illinois State University

3

Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fine & studio arts, ranking #3. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 15 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. See the full fine & studio arts program report for Loyola University Chicago

4
Lake Forest College crest
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL

Students looking for a strong fine & studio arts program will find one at Lake Forest College, which ranked #4. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lake Forest. About 78% of students finish within six years. About 14 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Lake Forest College in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $41,168 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,661. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at Lake Forest College

5

A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for fine & studio arts. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 35 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $28,669 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,356. See the full fine & studio arts program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

6

Eastern Illinois University came in at #6 for fine & studio arts this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 58 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $40,891 in their early career. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the fine & studio arts program at Eastern Illinois University

7

Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 89 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $26,795 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,781. See the full fine & studio arts program report for Northern Illinois University

8

Northeastern Illinois University placed #8 among the best fine & studio arts schools. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. About 13 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $30,845 early in their careers. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $20,319 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Northeastern Illinois University

9

University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #9 spot for fine & studio arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 51 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $21,954 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Get the full fine & studio arts details for University Of Illinois At Chicago

10

Saint Xavier University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Xavier University awarded about 13 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $51,753. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Saint Xavier University

11
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage came in at #11 for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. There were roughly 13 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of Dupage in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. College Of Dupage graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from College Of Dupage

12
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University ranked #12 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 Chicago. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Depaul University earn around $27,291 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,999 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Depaul University

13

Western Illinois University placed #13 among the best fine & studio arts schools. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Western Illinois University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $26,196 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Western Illinois University

14

Columbia College Chicago placed #14 among the best fine & studio arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Columbia College Chicago graduates 52% of students within six years. Columbia College Chicago awarded about 42 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $22,765. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Columbia College Chicago

15

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #15 for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. About 60% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 39 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $33,285 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale

16

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #16 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $16,290 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full fine & studio arts program report for Olivet Nazarene University

17

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #17 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $25,259 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $27,280 in student loans. Get the full fine & studio arts details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

18

School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago placed #18 among the best fine & studio arts schools. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 920 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago generally make around $24,253. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full fine & studio arts details for School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago

19

Southwestern Illinois College earned the #19 position for fine & studio arts this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Southwestern Illinois College awarded about 12 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Southwestern Illinois College graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Southwestern Illinois College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 72 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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