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2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools

534 Ranked Colleges
37,413 Degrees Awarded
$13,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Fine Arts Schools

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Fine Arts Schools” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 37,413 people earned their degree in fine and studio arts, making the major the 31st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, fine and studio arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,051 and had an average of $25,492 in loans still to pay off.

For this year’s “Best Value Fine Arts Schools” ranking, we looked at 534 colleges that offer a degree in fine and studio arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great fine and studio arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the fine and studio arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Fine & Studio Arts Schools

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

The fine arts 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 Fine Arts 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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Fine Arts Schools

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Fine Arts Schools.

Top 26 Best Value Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Provo. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. This large school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 63 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, BYU is in the top on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Provo is $13,474 for fine arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at BYU

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools. Brigham Young University - Idaho is located in Rexburg, Idaho and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 ’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho is $6,698 for fine arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Fine & Studio Arts at BYU - I

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Austin Community College District. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,224 for Fine Arts students per year to attend Austin Community College District.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Austin Community College District

4
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $12,301 for Fine Arts students.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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 Fine & Studio Arts at Truman State

5
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Out of the 534 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Lindenwood University landed the #5 spot on the list. Lindenwood University is a medium-sized school located in Saint Charles, Missouri that handed out 30 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,366 for Fine Arts students per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Lindenwood University

6
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking, coming in at #6. Florida State is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 149 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Florida State excels when it comes to Fine Arts quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State is $9,946 for Fine Arts students.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Full Florida State University Fine & Studio Arts Report

7

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking, coming in at #7. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,099 for fine arts students per year to attend UNK.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UNK Fine & Studio Arts Report

8

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking, coming in at #8. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 81 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $13,956 for Fine Arts students.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Northern Illinois University

9

University of Northern Iowa landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UNI also did well on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for fine arts students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UNI Fine & Studio Arts Report

10

University of North Texas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 238 students in 2020-2021.

UNT excels when it comes to Fine Arts quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. It costs about $14,122 for Fine Arts students per year to attend University of North Texas.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at University of North Texas

11

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,998 for Fine Arts 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 Fine & Studio Arts at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

12

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 ’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for Fine Arts students.

Full SIUE Fine & Studio Arts Report

13
WCU crest
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina

Western Carolina University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. WCU is a fairly large public school situated in Cullowhee, North Carolina. It awarded 49 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Western Carolina University is $13,924 for fine arts students.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at WCU

14
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University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Vermillion, South Dakota, and it awarded 24 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend USD is $19,389 for Fine Arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Dakota Fine & Studio Arts Report

15

With a ranking of #15, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 40 degrees to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for fine arts students.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

16

Illinois State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 106 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

On top of its placing in this ranking, Illinois State also did well on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools” list. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,830 for fine arts 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%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Illinois State University

17

With a ranking of #17, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 46 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Mankato is $17,159 for Fine Arts 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%.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Minnesota State Mankato

18

Borough of Manhattan Community College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s Fine Arts degrees to 70 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for BMCC is $5,646 for fine arts students.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at BMCC

19
UofM crest
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. University of Memphis is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 69 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,904 for Fine Arts students per year to attend University of Memphis.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at University of Memphis

20

University of Akron Main Campus came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Akron, Ohio that handed out 29 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,945 for fine arts students per year to attend University of Akron Main Campus.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at University of Akron Main Campus

21

California State University - Long Beach ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. California State University - Long Beach is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 424 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on this list, CSULB is in the top on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for California State University - Long Beach is $10,054 for fine arts students.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at CSULB

22

University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is located in Tampa, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 127 ’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

USF Tampa excels when it comes to Fine Arts quality. It’s in the top [COLLEGE_QUALITY_PECTENTILE_ALL_LEVES]% of all schools in this category. The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for fine arts students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, 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 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full USF Tampa Fine & Studio Arts Report

23
LaGuardia crest
LaGuardia Community College
Long Island City, New York

With a ranking of #23, LaGuardia Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. LaGuardia is a fairly large public school situated in Long Island City, New York. It awarded 88 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,444 for Fine Arts students per year to attend LaGuardia Community College.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at LaGuardia

23
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #23, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 73 diplomas to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $13,098 for fine arts students.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at EIU

25
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools list. This fairly large school is located in Big Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 23 ’s Fine Arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,213 for Fine Arts students per year to attend Ferris State University.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Ferris

25

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Fine Arts Schools ranking. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school awarded 58 diplomas to qualified ’s Fine Arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $16,718 for Fine Arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Fine & Studio Arts at Missouri State

Rest of the Best 49 in Best Value Fine Arts Schools

Not only did these schools make the top 49 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
28
29
30
31
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, New York
32
33
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University of Houston
Houston, Texas
33
35
36
37
38
39
40
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Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota
41
42
42
44
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University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
45
46
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Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
47
48
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University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
49
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Fine Arts Schools

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA
52Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale, MI
53San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA
54Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale, AZ
55Towson UniversityTowson, MD
56Minnesota State University - MoorheadMoorhead, MN
57Harding UniversitySearcy, AR
58California State University - FullertonFullerton, CA
59University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL
60University of WyomingLaramie, WY
61California State University - NorthridgeNorthridge, CA
62University of Wisconsin - StoutMenomonie, WI
63University of Wisconsin - OshkoshOshkosh, WI
64Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA
65University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL
RankCollegeLocation
66Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS
67The Graduate Center, CUNYNew York, NY
68Texas State UniversitySan Marcos, TX
69James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA
70Saint Cloud State UniversitySaint Cloud, MN
71Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI
72Fort Hays State UniversityHays, KS
73Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL
74University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NE
74San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA
76University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC
77County College of MorrisRandolph, NJ
78Bowling Green State University - Main CampusBowling Green, OH
79Purchase CollegePurchase, NY
80California State University - East BayHayward, CA
81University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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