2027 Best Value Art History Master’s Degree Schools
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 73 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
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value art history schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $16,863. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $33,627. That is a strong return on a $16,863 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $33,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $21,220. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Florida State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Art History graduates carry a median of $20,222 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $30,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, compared with $19,974 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $16,583. Art History graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $21,493 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Art History graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $32,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Art History graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $21,954. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
San Jose State University came in at #8 for value in art history this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of California Berkeley placed #9 among the best values for art history. Located in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Art History graduates carry a median of $13,254 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $20,368. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #10 spot for art history value this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,973 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Art History graduates carry a median of $13,667 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $25,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of California Davis came in at #11 for value in art history this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,061 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $42,782. That is a strong return on a $15,061 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Georgia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $21,947. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $18,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $21,356. Early-career art history graduates make about $28,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Houston came in at #14 for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,845 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $26,482. Set against $21,845 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of California Irvine came in at #15 for value in art history this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,640. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $17,635. Art History graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $23,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Irvine admits about 29% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #16 spot for art history value this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $37,186 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Kennesaw State University landed the #17 spot for art history value this year. Kennesaw State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kennesaw. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Art History graduates carry a median of $26,097 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $35,846. Set against $26,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kennesaw State University admits about 69% of applicants.
University Of Utah landed the #18 spot for art history value this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Art History graduates carry a median of $23,506 in student loans. Art History graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $33,081 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee came in at #19 for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,398, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,719 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $39,680 early in their careers. Set against $27,719 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of North Texas earned the #20 position for value in art history this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $24,000. Early-career art history graduates make about $23,354. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #21 spot for art history value this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,603 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Art History graduates carry a median of $19,316 in student loans. Art History graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $30,934 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,316 median debt. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Williams College earned the #22 position for value in art history this year. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $11,850. Art History graduates of Williams College earn a median of $34,560 early in their careers. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
University Of Arizona landed the #23 spot for art history value this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $19,290. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $29,102. That is a strong return on a $19,290 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Delaware came in at #24 for value in art history this year. Set in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, compared with $41,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,908 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $21,935. Set against $25,908 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Delaware admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny At Albany earned the #25 position for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the art history program here. Art History graduates of Suny At Albany earn a median of $35,104 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Art History Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s art history value ranking:
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. 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 · 73 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 73 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.
