College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Painting Schools

46 Ranked Colleges
646 Degrees Awarded
$19,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Painting Schools

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Painting Schools” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 646 people earned their degree in painting, making the major the 517th most popular in the United States.

For this year’s “Best Value Painting Schools” ranking, we looked at 46 colleges that offer a degree in painting. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great painting programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the painting program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Painting Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Painting Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The painting school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Painting Schools”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Painting Schools

The colleges and universities below are the best for painting students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Painting

1
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Painting Schools list. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s painting degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

UH did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Painting Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $13,721 for painting students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at University of Houston

2
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value Painting Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Ferris State University is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $12,213 for Painting students.

Read full report on Painting at Ferris State University

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Painting Schools. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 4 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for painting students.

Read full report on Painting at OHIO Athens

4
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purchase College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Painting Schools list. Purchase College is a small school located in Purchase, New York that handed out 25 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Purchase College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Painting Schools” list. It costs about $17,701 for Painting students per year to attend Purchase College.

Read full report on Painting at Purchase College

5
SUNY New Paltz crest
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, New York

Out of the 46 schools in the Best Value Painting Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, SUNY New Paltz landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in New Paltz, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SUNY New Paltz, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SUNY New Paltz is $17,123 for Painting students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY New Paltz Painting Report

6
Buffalo State crest
Buffalo State
Buffalo, New York

Buffalo State landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Buffalo State is a medium-sized school located in Buffalo, New York that handed out 3 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Buffalo State is $13,785 for Painting students.

Read full report on Painting at Buffalo State

7
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York

SUNY Fredonia landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Fredonia, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s painting degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Fredonia is $14,378 for painting students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full SUNY Fredonia Painting Report

8
MC crest
Mississippi College
Clinton, Mississippi

Mississippi College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Clinton, Mississippi, and it awarded 4 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $18,190 for Painting students per year to attend Mississippi College.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Mississippi College

9
Oakland crest
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking, coming in at #9. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 3 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $13,449 for Painting students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Oakland Painting Report

10
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

Temple also made our “Best Painting Schools” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Temple University is $23,888 for painting students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Painting at Temple University

11
Alfred crest
Alfred University
Alfred, New York

Alfred University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Alfred is located in Alfred, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Alfred University is $22,685 for painting students.

Read full report on Painting at Alfred University

12
CWU crest
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

Central Washington University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Located in Ellensburg, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for CWU is $16,514 for Painting students.

Read full report on Painting at Central Washington University

13
Salem State crest
Salem State University
Salem, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #13, Salem State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools list. Located in Salem, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Salem State University is $19,017 for painting students.

Read more about Painting at Salem State University

14

University of Southern Maine did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking, coming in at #14. University of Southern Maine is located in Portland, Maine and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $12,055 for painting students per year to attend University of Southern Maine.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at University of Southern Maine

14

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for painting students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Painting at UIUC

16

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Painting Schools ranking. UW Seattle is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 3 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Painting Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $12,017 for painting students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Painting Report

17

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 35 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at VCU, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for VCU is $20,490 for painting students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at VCU

18
Anderson University South Carolina crest
Anderson University South Carolina
Anderson, South Carolina

Anderson University South Carolina did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking, coming in at #18. Anderson University South Carolina is located in Anderson, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Anderson University South Carolina is $21,732 for Painting students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Anderson University South Carolina Painting Report

19

Savannah College of Art and Design landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking. SCAD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Savannah, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

SCAD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Painting Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Savannah College of Art and Design is $44,632 for painting students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Painting at SCAD

20

Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

MCAD also took the #24 spot in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking. It costs about $29,062 for painting students per year to attend Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Painting at Minneapolis College of Art and Design

21
UMass Dartmouth crest
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #21, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools list. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s painting degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is $20,050 for painting students.

Read full report on Painting at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

22
Carnbrook Academy crest
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Cranbrook Academy of Art came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s painting degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnbrook Academy, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Cranbrook Academy of Art

23

Massachusetts College of Art and Design ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools list. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our painting students list, Massachusetts College of Art and Design has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design is $22,968 for Painting students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Painting at Massachusetts College of Art and Design

24
Kansas City Art Institute crest
Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Art Institute ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools list. Kansas City Art Institute is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 21 ’s painting degrees in 2020-2021.

Kansas City Art Institute also took the #22 spot in our “Best Painting Schools” ranking. It costs about $28,529 for painting students per year to attend Kansas City Art Institute.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Kansas City Art Institute Painting Report

25
Marywood crest
Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania

Marywood University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Painting Schools ranking. Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s painting students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Marywood is $20,225 for Painting students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Painting at Marywood

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options