2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the The Plains States 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for fine arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine Arts Schools
Fort Hays State University earned the #1 spot for value among fine arts schools in the The Plains States Region. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $22,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $31,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Jefferson College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Jefferson College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, with out-of-state students paying around $8,850. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $47,560. That is a strong return on a $13,664 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fine arts will find it at Missouri Southern State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,600 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $22,241. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $29,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Truman State University earned it the #4 place for fine arts. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, with out-of-state students paying around $18,566. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Truman State University earn a median of $15,998 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Missouri Kansas City earned it the #5 place for fine arts. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, compared with $32,271 for out-of-state students. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $25,476 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #6 for value in fine arts this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $8,718, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $26,202 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $28,942 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,202 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University landed the #7 spot for fine arts value this year. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $28,150. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $27,518. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #8 position for value in fine arts this year. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,050 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $27,236. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #9 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $28,837 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $32,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
East Central College landed the #10 spot for fine arts value this year. Set in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,272, compared with $7,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $12,062. Fine Arts graduates of East Central College earn a median of $37,925 early in their careers. Set against $12,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $24,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Washburn University earned the #12 position for value in fine arts this year. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. In-state tuition and fees average $9,945, while out-of-state students pay about $20,949. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $21,175 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $50,955. That is a strong return on a $21,175 median debt.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln placed #13 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $21,500. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $28,783 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of Kansas earned the #14 position for value in fine arts this year. 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, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $22,361. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $22,868 early in their careers. Set against $22,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Black Hills State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value fine arts schools. Set in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,916 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $26,820 in student loans. Fine Arts graduates of Black Hills State University earn a median of $42,789 early in their careers. Set against $26,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth landed the #16 spot for fine arts value this year. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. In-state tuition and fees average $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Students borrow a median of $24,624 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Duluth earn a median of $25,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
South Dakota State University earned the #17 position for value in fine arts this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,989 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #18 among the best values for fine arts. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine arts program here. Fine Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $38,717 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kansas State University placed #19 among the best values for fine arts. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $27,000. Fine Arts graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $28,218 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #20 position for value in fine arts this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine arts graduates is $22,000. Fine Arts graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $23,034 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #21 for value in fine arts this year. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $68,303. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College South Dakota came in at #22 for value in fine arts this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,160 in tuition and fees. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $26,217 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $50,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Augustana College South Dakota admits about 68% of applicants.
Carleton College came in at #23 for value in fine arts this year. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,892 in tuition and fees. Fine Arts graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $45,096. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. Roughly 20% of applicants are accepted.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #24 for value in fine arts this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,484. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the fine arts program here. Early-career fine arts graduates make about $19,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Macalester College placed #25 among the best values for fine arts. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $68,104. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete the fine arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $42,517. Set against $22,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 28%.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
