2027 Best Value Art History Schools in Pennsylvania
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value art history schools.
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2027 Best Value Art History Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art history, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art History Schools
For return on investment in art history, no school beat Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania this year. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $25,000. Art History graduates of Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $29,377 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $45,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Bucks County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art history, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, compared with $13,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at Swarthmore College, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,494. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $19,500. Early-career art history graduates make about $66,971. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
A rank of #5 makes Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for art history. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,206, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $19,413. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #6 position for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $23,359. Art History graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $34,619 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,359 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Temple University placed #7 among the best values for art history. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Art History graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Art History graduates of Temple University earn a median of $24,558 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Josephs University came in at #8 for value in art history this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,260. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $26,426. Art History graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,477 to complete the art history program here. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $26,709. Set against $23,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Arcadia University placed #10 among the best values for art history. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,975 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $22,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arcadia University admits about 80% of applicants.
Bryn Mawr College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Bryn Mawr College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. Students from in state pay about $65,920 in tuition and fees. Art History graduates carry a median of $23,069 in student loans. Art History graduates of Bryn Mawr College earn a median of $35,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,069 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #12 among the best values for art history. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $21,500. Early-career art history graduates make about $89,327. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,000. Art History graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $23,086 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
More Art History Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
