2027 Best Value Art History Schools in Illinois
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for art history students.
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2027 Best Value Art History Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art History Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value art history schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $21,954 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Art History graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $46,566. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for art history. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $25,781. Art History graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $52,308 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #4 place for art history. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for art history. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,356 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $28,669 early in their careers. Set against $21,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University earned the #6 position for value in art history this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $26,380. Early-career art history graduates make about $54,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Knox College earned the #7 position for value in art history this year. Set in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $57,903. Students borrow a median of $26,420 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Knox College earn a median of $27,822 early in their careers. Set against $26,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago placed #8 among the best values for art history. Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $26,000. Early-career art history graduates make about $22,765. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Columbia College Chicago admits about 90% of applicants.
Depaul University earned the #9 position for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $26,999. Art History graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,999 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #10 spot for art history value this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Art History graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago earned the #11 position for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Chicago, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $54,623. Art History graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago generally make around $24,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago admits about 78% of applicants.
More Art History Rankings
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
