2027 Best Value Other Fine Arts & Art Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Other Fine Arts & Art Studies](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts-and-art-studies-other/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other fine arts & art studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for other fine arts & art studies students.
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2027 Best Value Other Fine Arts & Art Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other fine arts & art studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Fine Arts & Art Studies Schools
Ferris State University tops our 2027 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $54,608. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in other fine arts & art studies will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,319 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,319 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in other fine arts & art studies will find it at Schoolcraft College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Early-career other fine arts & art studies graduates make about $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in other fine arts & art studies will find it at Oakland University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. 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 other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other fine arts & art studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $31,000. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Northern Illinois University came in at #6 for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $25,781. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $52,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,781 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Ball State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $25,637 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $47,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $25,919 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $22,837. Set against $25,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee landed the #9 spot for other fine arts & art studies value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,398 for out-of-state students. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,719 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $36,332. Set against $27,719 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for other fine arts & art studies value this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for other fine arts & art studies graduates is $26,849. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $29,186 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,849 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Kalamazoo College earned the #11 position for value in other fine arts & art studies this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $60,900. Students borrow a median of $26,118 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Kalamazoo College earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $29,756. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia College Chicago landed the #13 spot for other fine arts & art studies value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,088. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from Columbia College Chicago generally make around $29,160. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Cleveland Institute Of Art ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value other fine arts & art studies schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Institute Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,700 in tuition and fees. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Cleveland Institute Of Art earn a median of $18,839 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
College For Creative Studies placed #15 among the best values for other fine arts & art studies. Set in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,350. Students borrow a median of $27,655 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Soon after graduation, other fine arts & art studies degree recipients from College For Creative Studies generally make around $26,638. That is a strong return on a $27,655 median debt. College For Creative Studies admits about 92% of applicants.
Kenyon College landed the #16 spot for other fine arts & art studies value this year. Located in the rural area of Gambier, Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,520. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the other fine arts & art studies program here. Other Fine Arts & Art Studies graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $23,082 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kenyon College admits about 31% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.