2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Michigan
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for fine & studio arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Leading the list is Schoolcraft College, our #1 best value for fine & studio arts in Michigan. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $15,677. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Lansing Community College one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,100 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delta College earned it the #3 place for fine & studio arts. Set in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,820 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $14,075. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Delta College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Ferris State University, which ranked #4. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,778. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $24,540. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Grand Rapids Community College one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $11,780 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $41,689. That is a strong return on a $11,780 median debt.
Oakland University landed the #6 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,972. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $22,840. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $19,319. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $31,367. That is a strong return on a $19,319 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Saginaw Valley State University earned the #8 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,091 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,289. Set against $28,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Wayne State University placed #9 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $20,948 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University landed the #10 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $23,786 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University placed #11 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $21,773. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #12 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Students borrow a median of $27,250 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $28,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University earned the #13 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of $24,135 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $31,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $18,117 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Kalamazoo College came in at #15 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,900. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,118. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $37,374. Set against $26,118 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University placed #16 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $30,875. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $19,566. Set against $30,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
College For Creative Studies ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Detroit, College For Creative Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,350. Students borrow a median of $27,655 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $26,638. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
More Fine & Studio Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
