by our College Data Analytics TeamFine Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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 293 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for fine arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
The school you choose for fine arts can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Fine Arts rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Fine Arts Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fine arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Dartmouth College, our #1 school for fine arts. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. Dartmouth College awarded about 11 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $30,246 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,663. Read more about the fine arts program at Dartmouth College
Stanford University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for Stanford University
A rank of #3 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for fine arts. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. Vanderbilt University awarded about 11 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $77,997 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at Vanderbilt University
Santa Clara University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in fine arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. Santa Clara University awarded about 13 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at Santa Clara University
A rank of #5 makes Wesleyan University one of the top schools for fine arts. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wesleyan University awarded about 36 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $39,764 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125. Read more about the fine arts program at Wesleyan University
University Of Maryland College Park ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 79 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $32,031 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000. Get the full fine arts details for University Of Maryland College Park
Illinois State University placed #7 among the best fine arts schools. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 20 fine arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $35,967 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,125. See the full fine arts program report for Illinois State University
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #8 spot for fine arts this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 65 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $45,488 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,978 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for University Of California Santa Barbara
San Jose State University placed #9 among the best fine arts schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 171 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. See the full fine arts program report for San Jose State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #10 among the best fine arts schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $36,006 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,198 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #11 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 18 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $26,709 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $23,477 in student loans. Get the full fine arts details for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #12 position for fine arts this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 59 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $30,719 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,316 to complete this degree. See the full fine arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Georgia earned the #13 position for fine arts this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 20 fine arts degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $26,323. Students borrow a median of $21,947 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for University Of Georgia
Washington University In St Louis landed the #14 spot for fine arts this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Washington University In St Louis graduates 94% of students within six years. About 22 fine arts degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Washington University In St Louis earn around $68,303 in the first couple years of their career. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. See the full fine arts program report for Washington University In St Louis
Hamilton College placed #15 among the best fine arts schools. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 15 fine arts degrees were awarded at Hamilton College in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans. Get the full fine arts details for Hamilton College
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $24,005 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,600 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine arts from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Connecticut College landed the #17 spot for fine arts this year. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 17 fine arts degrees were awarded at Connecticut College in the most recent year. Fine Arts graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $36,564 early in their careers. Connecticut College graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. More information about a degree in fine arts from Connecticut College
University Of Southern California placed #18 among the best fine arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $50,161 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,125 to complete this degree. See the full fine arts program report for University Of Southern California
Southern Methodist University came in at #19 for fine arts this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 21 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $38,154 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in fine arts from Southern Methodist University
American University earned the #20 position for fine arts this year. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 15 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $35,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250. See the full fine arts program report for American University
University Of California Davis landed the #21 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Fine Arts graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $32,741 early in their careers. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $15,061 in student loans. Read more about the fine arts program at University Of California Davis
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $25,927 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,057. Read more about the fine arts program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Whitman College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the city of Walla Walla, Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Whitman College awarded about 18 fine arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fine arts degree recipients from Whitman College generally make around $32,345. Typical student debt for the program is $17,518. More information about a degree in fine arts from Whitman College
Colby College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best fine arts schools. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Colby College graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 fine arts students who graduated with this degree at Colby College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fine arts program make about $46,772 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,016. See the full fine arts program report for Colby College
Loyola Marymount University landed the #25 spot for fine arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 42 fine arts degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their fine arts degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $27,210 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,600 to complete this degree. Get the full fine arts details for Loyola Marymount University
These schools also placed among the best for fine arts this year:
These schools also stood out for fine arts:
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| #51 | University Of Delaware | Newark, DE |
| #52 | High Point University | High Point, NC |
| #53 | University Of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| #54 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| #55 | University Of Wyoming | Laramie, WY |
| #56 | Colorado State University Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO |
| #57 | Cuny Hunter College | New York, NY |
| #58 | California State University Chico | Chico, CA |
A few more fine arts schools worth a look:
Explore the best fine arts schools by region.
| Region |
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| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
| Outlying Areas |
Explore other rankings in majors related to Fine Arts. Browse the parent area of study.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 293 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.