2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in Minnesota
[Art Education](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/art-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong art education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value art education schools.
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2026 Best Value Art Education Schools in Minnesota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art education, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art Education Schools
Our analysis ranked Saint Cloud State University the best value for a degree in art education in Minnesota. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Art Education graduates carry a median of $30,795 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $43,279 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Bemidji State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art education, landing the #2 spot this year. Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Bemidji. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. The acceptance rate is 56%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwest Minnesota State University earned it the #3 place for art education. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,361. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $29,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $48,109. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Students looking for strong value in art education will find it at Concordia University Saint Paul, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Art Education graduates carry a median of $29,026 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $48,056. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Winona State University earned it the #5 place for art education. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #6 among the best values for art education. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Art Education graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. 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. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #7 position for value in art education this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $26,082 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $53,463. That is a strong return on a $26,082 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
St Catherine University came in at #8 for value in art education this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,428 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $28,000. Early-career art education graduates make about $60,427. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Augsburg College landed the #9 spot for art education value this year. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $45,452. Typical student debt for art education graduates is $26,319. Early-career art education graduates make about $59,409. Set against $26,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Minnesota ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value art education schools. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career art education graduates make about $40,191. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #11 among the best values for art education. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,170. Art Education graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Art Education graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $48,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #12 among the best values for art education. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the art education program here. Early-career art education graduates make about $43,639. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
