2026 Best Value Painting Schools in the Southeast Region
[Painting](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/painting/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong painting education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value painting schools.
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2026 Best Value Painting Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in painting, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Painting Schools
Our analysis ranked Virginia Commonwealth University the best value for a degree in painting in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. 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 $20,934 early in their careers. Set against $23,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Miami earned it the #2 place for painting. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for painting graduates is $17,750. Early-career painting graduates make about $57,234. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Savannah College Of Art And Design one of the best values for painting. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,630. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the painting program here. Soon after graduation, painting degree recipients from Savannah College Of Art And Design generally make around $30,812. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
