2027 Best Value Art Education Schools in the Southwest Region
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value art education schools.
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2027 Best Value Art Education Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art Education Schools
For return on investment in art education, no school beat Northern Arizona University this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Art Education graduates carry a median of $22,009 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $49,856. That is a strong return on a $22,009 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #2 makes Arizona State University one of the best values for art education. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $54,028. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Northeastern State University one of the best values for art education. Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Tahlequah. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,810, with out-of-state students paying around $17,290. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Northeastern State University earn a median of $47,025 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwestern Oklahoma State University earned it the #4 place for art education. Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Weatherford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,469, with out-of-state students paying around $8,499. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $25,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,302. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned it the #5 place for art education. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, compared with $33,060 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,250 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $36,682. Set against $14,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas placed #6 among the best values for art education. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Students borrow a median of $21,817 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $56,320. That is a strong return on a $21,817 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arizona earned the #7 position for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $47,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Texas Tech University earned the #8 position for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,271 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $53,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #9 among the best values for art education. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Art Education graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $47,741 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Hardin Simmons University placed #10 among the best values for art education. Set in the city of Abilene, Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,960. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Hardin Simmons University generally make around $50,478. Set against $27,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $54,149. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Mcmurry University earned the #12 position for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Abilene, Mcmurry University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,100. Students borrow a median of $28,901 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Mcmurry University generally make around $41,609. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Houston Baptist University placed #13 among the best values for art education. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,430. Art Education graduates carry a median of $25,601 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of $58,604 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,601 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma City University earned the #14 position for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,754. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Oklahoma City University generally make around $34,321. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor came in at #15 for value in art education this year. Set in the suburb of Belton, University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art education program here. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from University Of Mary Hardin Baylor generally make around $54,062. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Texas Christian University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,740. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $57,665 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
