2027 Best Value Fine Arts Master’s Degree Schools
[Fine Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 61 schools to find the best return on investment for fine arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
For return on investment in fine arts, no school beat Cuny Hunter College this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $33,582 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Hunter College admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Florida came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $16,863. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $33,627. Set against $16,863 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $15,000. Fine Arts graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $25,359 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #4 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $14,750 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $28,726 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in fine arts will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $20,222 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $30,765. Set against $20,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in fine arts this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $32,650 early in their careers. Set against $22,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach placed #7 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $16,583 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $21,493. That is a strong return on a $16,583 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #8 spot for fine arts value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $21,954. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,254 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $20,368. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
San Jose State University came in at #10 for value in fine arts this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. San Jose State University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of California Davis landed the #11 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Students borrow a median of $15,061 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $42,782 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,061 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Georgia ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $21,947 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $18,590. That is a strong return on a $21,947 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #13 among the best values for fine arts. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,356 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $28,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
University Of California Irvine landed the #14 spot for fine arts value this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,752 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $46,640. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $17,635. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $50,958. Set against $17,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Indiana University Bloomington ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,144 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $37,186. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Kennesaw State University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,736. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,097. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $35,846. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of North Texas came in at #17 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $23,354. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #18 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $19,316 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $30,934. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona landed the #19 spot for fine arts value this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $19,290. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $29,102. Set against $19,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Delaware came in at #20 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,810, with out-of-state students paying around $41,400. Students borrow a median of $25,908 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $21,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Albany ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,991. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $35,104. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Arkansas ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $21,777. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $24,970 early in their careers. Set against $21,777 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $22,361 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $29,107 early in their careers. Set against $22,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Maine came in at #24 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $27,050 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #25 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,174, with out-of-state students paying around $22,696. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $18,342. Fine Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $23,428 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fashion Institute Of Technology admits about 60% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for fine arts this year:
Other Fine Arts Degree Levels
Explore the best-value fine arts schools at other degree levels:
View All Fine Arts Rankings >
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 · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 61 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.
