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2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s

45 Ranked Colleges
567 Degrees Awarded
$19,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 739 people earned their degree in painting, making the major the 492nd most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 567 painting graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s” ranking looked at 45 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in painting. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent painting programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the painting program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Painting

#1

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Houston. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree painting students list, UH has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $12,838 for bachelor’s degree painting students per year to attend UH.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read more about Painting at University of Houston

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s. San Juan, is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UPR Rio Piedras is $11,714 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students.

Full University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Painting Report

#3

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s painting students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $12,889 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

Read full report on Painting at Ferris State University

#4

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas
#24 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harding University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. This small school is located in Searcy, Arkansas, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harding, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Harding is $19,375 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Painting at Harding University

#5

SUNY Fredonia

Fredonia, New York
#21 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend SUNY Fredonia. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s. SUNY Fredonia is a public institution located in Fredonia, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree painting students list, SUNY Fredonia has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SUNY Fredonia is $14,824 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students.

The low 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

#6

SUNY New Paltz

New Paltz, New York
#15 in overall quality

SUNY New Paltz landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. SUNY New Paltz is a public institution located in New Paltz, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SUNY New Paltz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for SUNY New Paltz is $17,171 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Full SUNY New Paltz Painting Report

#7

Purchase College

Purchase, New York
#20 in overall quality

Purchase College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

Purchase College also took the #20 spot in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purchase College is $18,326 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students.

Read more about Painting at Purchase College

#8

Buffalo State

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo State ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Buffalo State is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,960 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students per year to attend Buffalo State.

Read more about Painting at Buffalo State

#9

Salem State University

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Salem State University is located in Salem, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $18,399 for bachelor’s degree painting students per year to attend Salem State.

Read more about Painting at Salem State University

#10

Mississippi College

Clinton, Mississippi

Mississippi College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Mississippi College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Clinton, Mississippi. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for MC is $17,186 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students.

Read more about Painting at Mississippi College

#11

University of Southern Maine

Portland, Maine

University of Southern Maine did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Portland, Maine, this medium-sized public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s painting students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $12,339 for bachelor’s degree painting students per year to attend University of Southern Maine.

Full University of Southern Maine Painting Report

#12

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. Oakland University is a fairly large school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 3 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Oakland University is $11,802 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

Read full report on Painting at Oakland

#13

Anderson University South Carolina

Anderson, South Carolina
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Anderson University South Carolina did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Anderson, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s painting students in 2019-2020.

Anderson University South Carolina did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $21,756 for bachelor’s degree painting students per year to attend Anderson University South Carolina.

Full Anderson University South Carolina Painting Report

#14

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#13 in overall quality

Temple University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

Temple also took the #13 spot in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Temple is $23,521 for bachelor’s degree 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.

Read more about Painting at Temple University

#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $15,880 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Painting Report

#16

American Academy of Art

Chicago, Illinois

American Academy of Art ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. American Academy of Art is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for The Academy is $28,106 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 The Academy

#17

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia
#14 in overall quality

Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 37 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

VCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend VCU is $22,021 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

The low 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 Virginia Commonwealth University Painting Report

#2 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree painting students list, UW Seattle has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,297 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students per year to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Painting Report

#19

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking. North Dartmouth, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s painting degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $18,503 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students per year to attend UMass Dartmouth.

Read more about Painting at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

#20

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa

With a ranking of #20, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. St. Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $26,204 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students per year to attend St. Ambrose University.

Read full report on Painting at St. Ambrose University

#21

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon
#12 in overall quality

University of Oregon did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #21. UO is a public institution located in Eugene, Oregon. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UO also made our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for UO is $16,461 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Oregon Painting Report

#22

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

Minneapolis College of Art and Design ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Minneapolis College of Art and Design is a small school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 10 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

MCAD also took the #18 spot in our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis College of Art and Design is $28,717 for bachelor’s degree painting students.

With a 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 Minneapolis College of Art and Design

#23

Montserrat College of Art

Beverly, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #23, Montserrat College of Art did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Montserrat College of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Beverly, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $31,313 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students per year to attend Montserrat College of Art.

Read full report on Painting at Montserrat College of Art

#24

Art Academy of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Art Academy of Cincinnati ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s list. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a small school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 6 bachelors’s painting degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $24,071 for Bachelor’s Degree Painting students per year to attend Art Academy of Cincinnati.

The impressive 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.

Full Art Academy of Cincinnati Painting Report

#25

Kansas City Art Institute

Kansas City, Missouri
#19 in overall quality

Kansas City Art Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Painting Schools for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #25. Kansas City Art Institute is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 bachelors’s painting degrees to qualified students.

Kansas City Art Institute not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Painting Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. It costs about $30,452 for bachelor’s degree painting students per year to attend Kansas City Art Institute.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Kansas City Art Institute Painting Report

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jorge Royan.

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