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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts in the Great Lakes Region

28 Ranked Colleges
492 Degrees Awarded
$25,100 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 39,860 people earned their degree in fine and studio arts, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, fine and studio arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $23,847 and had an average of $28,316 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 4,696 fine and studio arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $23,555 and $28,974 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 492 fine and studio arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the fine and studio arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Fine & Studio Arts Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree fine arts students.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #1 spot on the list. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Illinois State

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at UW - Madison

#3

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bradley University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Peoria, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2019-2020.

Bradley also took the #10 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bradley are $17,040.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Bradley

#4

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#23 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferris State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Ferris is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ferris also took the #23 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris are $7,908, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Ferris State University Fine & Studio Arts Report

#5

Columbia College Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbia College Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree fine arts students list, Columbia has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $2,350, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Columbia College Chicago

#25 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 5 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at SIUE

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at EIU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full EIU Fine & Studio Arts Report

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

NIU also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#9

Indiana State University

Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Indiana State University

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree fine arts students list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Ohio University - Athens Campus

#5 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 15 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at UIUC

Kent State University at Kent landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Kent, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree fine arts students list, Kent State has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kent State are $21,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Kent State Fine & Studio Arts Report

#13

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a public institution located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UWM, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree fine arts students list, UC has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus are $26,644.

Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Fine & Studio Arts Report

#15

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#18 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 6 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

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

#16

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Indiana University - Bloomington

#16 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified masters’s Fine Arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at UIC

#18

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #18, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Michigan are $26,552.

Full Eastern Michigan University Fine & Studio Arts Report

#12 in overall quality

Miami University - Oxford ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large public school situated in Oxford, Ohio. It awarded 5 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Miami University - Oxford are $31,697, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Miami University - Oxford

With a ranking of #20, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s Fine Arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Fine & Studio Arts Report

#24 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree fine arts students list, SIUC has also earned the #24 rank in our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at SIUC

#22

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan

With a ranking of #22, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Michigan State is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State University are $37,056.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Michigan State University

#23

Cranbrook Academy of Art

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Cranbrook Academy of Art landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Bloomfield Hills, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s Fine Arts degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Carnbrook Academy did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cranbrook Academy of Art are $40,900, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Fine & Studio Arts at Cranbrook Academy of Art

#24

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 6 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State are $37,215.

Read more about Fine & Studio Arts at Wayne State

#25

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Fine Arts Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 6 masters’s Fine Arts degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Fine & Studio Arts Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Fine & Studio Arts Report

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jorge Royan.

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