2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
[Fine Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/fine-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 68 schools to find the best return on investment for fine arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 best value for fine arts in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $16,863 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $28,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for fine arts. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $14,750. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $28,726. That is a strong return on a $14,750 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for fine arts. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,724 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $31,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #4 place for fine arts. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $14,600. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $24,005. That is a strong return on a $14,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Students looking for strong value in fine arts will find it at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $28,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida came in at #6 for value in fine arts this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $22,036 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $23,324 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,036 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Florida State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $20,222. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $28,775. Set against $20,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida International University placed #8 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $17,250 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $22,334. That is a strong return on a $17,250 median debt. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
The University Of West Florida landed the #9 spot for fine arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $23,843. That is a strong return on a $16,750 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
University Of North Georgia ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. University Of North Georgia is a very large public school located in the town of Dahlonega. In-state tuition and fees average $5,444, compared with $16,956 for out-of-state students. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $22,375 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of University Of North Georgia earn a median of $23,530 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
University Of North Florida placed #11 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $31,770. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Murray State University landed the #12 spot for fine arts value this year. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $21,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Georgia landed the #13 spot for fine arts value this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $21,947. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $26,323 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #14 position for value in fine arts this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,661, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $25,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $18,745. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Asheville landed the #15 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,501, while out-of-state students pay about $24,849. Students borrow a median of $23,942 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $23,504. That is a strong return on a $23,942 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University earned the #16 position for value in fine arts this year. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,024, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $17,301. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Western Kentucky University earned the #17 position for value in fine arts this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $28,291. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Nicholls State University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Located in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,149, while out-of-state students pay about $9,242. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $20,966 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $33,877. Set against $20,966 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #19 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,375. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $25,596. That is a strong return on a $27,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,648, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $40,578. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #21 for value in fine arts this year. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Students borrow a median of $26,225 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $18,337. That is a strong return on a $26,225 median debt. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University landed the #22 spot for fine arts value this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $13,975. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Western Carolina University earned the #23 position for value in fine arts this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $24,253. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of New Orleans placed #24 among the best values for fine arts. University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $9,172 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,008. Students borrow a median of $23,048 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of New Orleans generally make around $42,720. That is a strong return on a $23,048 median debt. University Of New Orleans admits about 74% of applicants.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #25 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,376, with out-of-state students paying around $15,576. Students borrow a median of $13,935 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Tennessee Technological University generally make around $19,231. That is a strong return on a $13,935 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in fine arts:
Narrow Fine Arts Schools by State
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 68 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 68 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.
