2027 Best Value Art History Associate’s Degree Schools
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for art history students.
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2027 Best Value Art History Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art History Schools
Leading the list is Austin Community College District, our #1 best value for art history in the United States. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $16,500. Art History graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queensborough Community College earned it the #2 place for art history. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, while out-of-state students pay about $8,090. Art History graduates carry a median of $10,052 in student loans. Art History graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $16,739 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $13,559. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Truckee Meadows Community College one of the best values for art history. Truckee Meadows Community College is a large public school located in the city of Reno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,352, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Students borrow a median of $12,290 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $52,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miracosta College earned it the #5 place for art history. Set in the suburb of Oceanside, Miracosta College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,158, with out-of-state students paying around $9,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,845 ten years after entry.
Norco College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Norco College is a large public school located in the suburb of Norco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,428, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $8,203. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,206 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $8,203 median debt.
Ferris State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $54,608. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Bucks County Community College landed the #8 spot for art history value this year. Bucks County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Newtown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $13,926. Art History graduates carry a median of $13,068 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Bucks County Community College generally make around $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Blinn College earned the #9 position for value in art history this year. Set in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, while out-of-state students pay about $11,370. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lansing Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Arapahoe Community College came in at #11 for value in art history this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,434, while out-of-state students pay about $17,034. Students borrow a median of $20,448 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $47,579. Set against $20,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Reedley College earn a median of $30,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Los Angeles Harbor College landed the #13 spot for art history value this year. Los Angeles Harbor College is a large public school located in the city of Wilmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,238, while out-of-state students pay about $10,568. Students borrow a median of $11,488 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $91,233. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $40,414. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Art History Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Art History rankings across degree levels:
View All Art History Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.
