by our College Data Analytics Team
[Metal & Jewelry Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/metal-and-jewelry-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for metal & jewelry arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the metal & jewelry arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pasadena City College earned the #1 spot for value among metal & jewelry arts schools in California. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Early-career metal & jewelry arts graduates make about $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Folsom Lake College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value metal & jewelry arts schools. Set in the city of Folsom, Folsom Lake College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, while out-of-state students pay about $12,616. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,568.
Santa Ana College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value metal & jewelry arts schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $11,196. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gemological Institute Of America Carlsbad earned it the #4 place for metal & jewelry arts. Gemological Institute Of America Carlsbad is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlsbad. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $8,233. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of Gemological Institute Of America Carlsbad earn a median of $36,639 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Academy Of Art University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in metal & jewelry arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. In-state tuition and fees average $30,736. Typical student debt for metal & jewelry arts graduates is $41,870. Early-career metal & jewelry arts graduates make about $50,953. Set against $41,870 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California College Of The Arts landed the #6 spot for metal & jewelry arts value this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,226 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,250 to complete the metal & jewelry arts program here. Metal & Jewelry Arts graduates of California College Of The Arts earn a median of $21,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.