2027 Best Value Art Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 42 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value art education schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Art Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is Valley City State University, our #1 best value for art education in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,580 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,544 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $24,394 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Valley City State University earn a median of $48,241 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at Fort Hays State University, which ranked #2. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. In-state tuition and fees average $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Students borrow a median of $23,082 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $49,775 early in their careers. Set against $23,082 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at Chadron State College, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,294 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $24,943. Early-career art education graduates make about $46,824. Set against $24,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #4 spot this year. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,145 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $47,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,145 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Peru State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Peru State College is a small public school located in the rural area of Peru. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,433. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,254. Early-career art education graduates make about $40,993. That is a strong return on a $26,254 median debt.
Minot State University landed the #6 spot for art education value this year. Minot State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Minot. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,702. Students borrow a median of $28,324 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Minot State University earn a median of $44,973 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #7 position for value in art education this year. University Of Central Missouri is a large public school located in the town of Warrensburg. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Students borrow a median of $25,741 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $37,460 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
College Of The Ozarks landed the #8 spot for art education value this year. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,360. Early-career art education graduates make about $37,944. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Bemidji State University landed the #9 spot for art education value this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,237. Students borrow a median of $23,389 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Bemidji State University earn a median of $48,984 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,389 median debt. Bemidji State University admits about 56% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $25,485. Art Education graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,970 early in their careers. Set against $25,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Art Education graduates carry a median of $30,795 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,279. Set against $30,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Wayne State College came in at #12 for value in art education this year. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $25,957. Early-career art education graduates make about $42,589. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #13 spot for art education value this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $52,307. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Washburn University placed #14 among the best values for art education. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,945, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $50,955. Set against $21,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #15 for value in art education this year. Located in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,361. Art Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $48,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwest Minnesota State University admits about 62% of applicants.
Northern State University landed the #16 spot for art education value this year. Set in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,845, while out-of-state students pay about $11,947. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Northern State University earn a median of $45,824 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Emporia State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Art Education graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of $52,694 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #18 spot for art education value this year. Located in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,611 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Art Education graduates carry a median of $26,221 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $38,832. That is a strong return on a $26,221 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Winona State University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Students borrow a median of $26,762 to complete the art education program here. Art Education graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $44,002 early in their careers. Set against $26,762 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Black Hills State University earned the #20 position for value in art education this year. Set in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,916, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,820. Early-career art education graduates make about $42,789. That is a strong return on a $26,820 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas earned the #21 position for value in art education this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $24,174. Art Education graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $40,495 early in their careers. Set against $24,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #22 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Art Education graduates carry a median of $30,294 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $39,237 early in their careers. Set against $30,294 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Concordia University Saint Paul earned the #23 position for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,600. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $29,026. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $48,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value art education schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $28,000. Art Education graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $41,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Kansas State University came in at #25 for value in art education this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Art Education graduates carry a median of $22,814 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art education degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $45,179. Set against $22,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 42 Best Value Art Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in art education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
