Fine & Studio Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 518 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fine & studio arts students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Dartmouth College the best school in the country for a degree in fine & studio arts. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 22 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $30,246 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,663.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for fine & studio arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 193 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $31,367 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,319 to complete this degree.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 15 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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Vanderbilt University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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Students looking for a strong fine & studio arts program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #5. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 16 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University came in at #6 for fine & studio arts this year. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 17 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Santa Clara University earn around $79,380 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 13 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $79,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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Wake Forest University earned the #8 position for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
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Gonzaga University earned the #9 position for fine & studio arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Spokane. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Gonzaga University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $58,733 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,188 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University landed the #10 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. About 134 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $33,501 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,001 to complete this degree.
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Wellesley College landed the #11 spot for fine & studio arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wellesley. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Wellesley College earn around $48,902 in the first couple years of their career. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans.
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Boston College earned the #12 position for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
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Wesleyan University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wesleyan University awarded about 39 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 156 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $25,947 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,667 to complete this degree.
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Carleton College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carleton College awarded about 10 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Carleton College earn around $45,096 in the first couple years of their career. Carleton College graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans.
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Harvard University came in at #16 for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #17 among the best fine & studio arts schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 84 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $32,031 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
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American University came in at #18 for fine & studio arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. American University awarded about 23 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from American University earn around $35,115 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Brandeis University landed the #19 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. Brandeis University awarded about 15 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. Typical student debt for the program is $25,653.
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University Of San Diego landed the #20 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 18 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. About 64% of students finish within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 117 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine & studio arts degree from Illinois State University earn around $35,967 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
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Williams College came in at #22 for fine & studio arts this year. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Williams College awarded about 55 fine & studio arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Williams College earn a median of $34,560 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
More information about a degree in fine & studio arts from Williams College
Princeton University landed the #23 spot for fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. About 11 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine & studio arts program make about $67,532 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
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Sacred Heart University came in at #24 for fine & studio arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fairfield. Sacred Heart University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 fine & studio arts students who graduated with this degree at Sacred Heart University in the most recent data year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,831.
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Washington University In St Louis ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best fine & studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 26 fine & studio arts degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Fine & Studio Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for fine & studio arts this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 518 schools evaluated.
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).
