2027 Best Value Painting Master’s Degree Schools
[Painting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/painting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for painting students.
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2027 Best Value Painting Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the painting degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Painting Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Washington Seattle Campus the best value for a degree in painting in the United States. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $13,667 to complete the painting program here. Early-career painting graduates make about $65,681. That is a strong return on a $13,667 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Students borrow a median of $21,845 to complete the painting program here. Painting graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $26,482 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,845 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at State University Of New York At New Paltz earned it the #3 place for painting. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,572, compared with $18,822 for out-of-state students. Painting graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Painting graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $18,842 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
A rank of #4 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the best values for painting. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the painting program here. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Painting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $30,459. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent came in at #6 for value in painting this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $28,501. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Set against $28,501 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Painting graduates carry a median of $23,374 in student loans. Painting graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $19,952 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Boston University earned the #8 position for value in painting this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,102. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $37,078. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design placed #9 among the best values for painting. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,400, while out-of-state students pay about $43,400. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design generally make around $54,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University landed the #10 spot for painting value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Painting graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Painting graduates of Temple University earn a median of $27,007 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Alfred University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Alfred University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,138. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Alfred University generally make around $21,443. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design came in at #12 for value in painting this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,484 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the painting program here. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design generally make around $24,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design admits about 48% of applicants.
Maine College Of Art came in at #13 for value in painting this year. Set in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,942. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Maine College Of Art generally make around $29,954. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University landed the #14 spot for painting value this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Syracuse University generally make around $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #15 position for value in painting this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $56,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Painting graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $30,247 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Pacific Northwest College Of Art ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Located in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,006 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Early-career painting graduates make about $28,794. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Pacific Northwest College Of Art admits about 75% of applicants.
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,630 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Savannah College Of Art And Design generally make around $40,980. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
Rhode Island School Of Design earned the #18 position for value in painting this year. Rhode Island School Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. In-state tuition and fees average $62,688. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Painting graduates of Rhode Island School Of Design earn a median of $28,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Pratt Institute Main earned the #19 position for value in painting this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,845. Painting graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Painting graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $32,780 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
California College Of The Arts placed #20 among the best values for painting. California College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,226. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $29,250. Early-career painting graduates make about $24,495. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Cranbrook Academy Of Art ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value painting schools. Cranbrook Academy Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bloomfield Hills. Early-career painting graduates make about $24,423.
New York Academy Of Art came in at #22 for value in painting this year. Located in the city of New York, New York Academy Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university.
Other Painting Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Painting rankings across degree levels:
View All Painting Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
