2026 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the fine & studio arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Leading the list is San Diego Miramar College, our #1 best value for fine & studio arts in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,098 median debt.
Moorpark College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Skyline College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Mesa College earned it the #4 place for fine & studio arts. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at California State University Dominguez Hills, which ranked #5. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $15,886. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Oxnard College placed #6 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Cerritos College landed the #7 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons landed the #8 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Irvine Valley College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $11,860. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $6,672. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of The Sequoias ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,288 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $37,749. That is a strong return on a $10,288 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,384. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Valley College earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $0, compared with $9,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $14,308. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grossmont College placed #13 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $10,628. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,309.
Fresno City College landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $7,234 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $37,470. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
Saddleback College earned the #15 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $5,707. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Golden West College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt.
Moreno Valley College landed the #17 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Moreno Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Moreno Valley. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,498. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,643 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Moreno Valley College generally make around $45,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College earned the #18 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $9,191. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College placed #19 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College placed #20 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College earned the #21 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Reedley College placed #22 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the town of Reedley, Reedley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Reedley College generally make around $30,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Imperial Valley College landed the #23 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Imperial Valley College is a large public school located in the rural area of Imperial. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,126, while out-of-state students pay about $8,830. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $6,176 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
California State University Los Angeles came in at #24 for value in fine & studio arts this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $19,087 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $24,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University Fullerton ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $16,448 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $41,350. Set against $16,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for fine & studio arts this year:
Narrow Fine & Studio Arts Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 228 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 61 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.
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong fine & studio arts education at a price that pays off.
