2027 Best Value Art Education Schools in Illinois
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value art education schools.
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2027 Best Value Art Education Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the art education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Art Education Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in art education in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $17,125. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $58,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Saint Xavier University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,945. Students borrow a median of $27,194 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $46,835. Set against $27,194 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Francis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,110. Students borrow a median of $25,695 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $59,586. That is a strong return on a $25,695 median debt. University Of St Francis admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $21,500. Art Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $51,105 early in their careers. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Illinois University earned it the #5 place for art education. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,746 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $51,839. Set against $26,746 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago came in at #6 for value in art education this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,488. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,796 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Trinity Christian College placed #7 among the best values for art education. Set in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,605. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $44,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Olivet Nazarene University placed #8 among the best values for art education. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $51,475. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Millikin University came in at #9 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $27,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,936. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Millikin University admits about 67% of applicants.
Bradley University placed #10 among the best values for art education. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $42,917. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #11 spot for art education value this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $45,145 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Mckendree University landed the #12 spot for art education value this year. Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. Students from in state pay about $34,740 in tuition and fees. Art Education graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Mckendree University earn a median of $51,068 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #13 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $52,130. Set against $26,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,623 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $27,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $56,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
More Art Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
