by our College Data Analytics Team
[Painting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/painting/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for painting students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in painting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art earned the #1 spot for value among painting schools in Oregon. Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $49,006. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Early-career painting graduates make about $27,350. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced 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 · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.