2026 Best Value Art Studies Schools in West Virginia
[Art Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/art-studies/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for art studies students.
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2026 Best Value Art Studies Schools in West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in art studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Art Studies Schools
Marshall University tops our 2026 list of the best value art studies schools in West Virginia. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, with out-of-state students paying around $20,342. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $25,293 in student loans. Art Studies graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $24,475 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,293 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Shepherd University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value art studies schools. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,056, compared with $19,082 for out-of-state students. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $33,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
West Virginia University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $28,608. Art Studies graduates carry a median of $24,121 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art studies degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $23,043. Set against $24,121 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
More Art Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
