2026 Best Value Drawing Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Drawing](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/drawing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong drawing education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 58 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for drawing students.
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2026 Best Value Drawing Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in drawing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Drawing Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among drawing schools in the United States. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,319 to complete the drawing program here. Early-career drawing graduates make about $66,254. That is a strong return on a $19,319 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Columbus State University one of the best values for drawing. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,898, compared with $17,610 for out-of-state students. Drawing graduates carry a median of $30,430 in student loans. Early-career drawing graduates make about $22,798. Set against $30,430 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
A rank of #3 makes Ferris State University one of the best values for drawing. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, drawing degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $24,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #4 makes Oakland University one of the best values for drawing. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the drawing program here. Soon after graduation, drawing degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $22,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in drawing will find it at Georgia State University, which ranked #5. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Drawing graduates carry a median of $27,349 in student loans. Soon after graduation, drawing degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $21,226. Set against $27,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value drawing schools. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,428. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $27,000. Drawing graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $30,521 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Moorhead admits about 59% of applicants.
Shawnee State University earned the #7 position for value in drawing this year. Set in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,448, compared with $16,032 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $28,750. Drawing graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of $42,878 early in their careers. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Montana ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value drawing schools. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,552, compared with $33,671 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,187 to complete the drawing program here. Soon after graduation, drawing degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $42,654. That is a strong return on a $26,187 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Aquinas College Michigan earned the #9 position for value in drawing this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,218. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $25,925. Drawing graduates of Aquinas College Michigan earn a median of $40,708 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,925 median debt. Aquinas College Michigan admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of South Dakota earned the #10 position for value in drawing this year. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $27,000. Early-career drawing graduates make about $25,327. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for drawing value this year. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Slippery Rock. In-state tuition and fees average $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Students borrow a median of $28,850 to complete the drawing program here. Soon after graduation, drawing degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $44,294. Set against $28,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
Maryland Institute College Of Art landed the #12 spot for drawing value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,800. Drawing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drawing graduates make about $21,138. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Cleveland Institute Of Art came in at #13 for value in drawing this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,700. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $27,000. Drawing graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Art earn a median of $18,839 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value drawing schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,600. Typical student debt for drawing graduates is $27,000. Early-career drawing graduates make about $17,887. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Pratt Institute Main landed the #15 spot for drawing value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,845. Drawing graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career drawing graduates make about $18,451. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pratt Institute Main admits about 73% of applicants.
Other Drawing Degree Levels
Explore the best-value drawing schools at other degree levels:
View All Drawing Rankings >
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 · 58 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
