2027 Best Value Art History Schools in Virginia
[Art History](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-history/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong art history education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for art history students.
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2027 Best Value Art History Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the art history degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Art History Schools
Our analysis ranked Old Dominion University the best value for a degree in art history in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career art history graduates make about $27,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes George Mason University one of the best values for art history. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in art history will find it at University Of Mary Washington, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,905, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the art history program here. Early-career art history graduates make about $24,013. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Art History graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $23,372. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Art History graduates carry a median of $23,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $33,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Hollins University came in at #6 for value in art history this year. Located in the suburb of Roanoke, Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,560 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, art history degree recipients from Hollins University generally make around $26,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value art history schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $23,374. Art History graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $20,934 early in their careers. Set against $23,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Richmond earned the #8 position for value in art history this year. Set in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,230. Typical student debt for art history graduates is $21,634. Art History graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Set against $21,634 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
More Art History Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
