2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Maryland

[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fine & studio arts students.
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2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Maryland
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 Montgomery College, our #1 best value for fine & studio arts in Maryland. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,833. That is a strong return on a $11,230 median debt.
University Of Maryland College Park is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, while out-of-state students pay about $41,186. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $32,031 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cecil College earned it the #3 place for fine & studio arts. Located in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,830. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,952.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,225. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $23,879 early in their careers. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Morgan State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,229, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Morgan State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Towson University earned the #6 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $17,978. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Towson University earn a median of $29,958 early in their careers. Set against $17,978 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Frostburg State University placed #7 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Frostburg, Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,814. Students borrow a median of $24,834 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $24,649. Set against $24,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Frostburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Salisbury University earned the #8 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salisbury. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,084, while out-of-state students pay about $22,174. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,239 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Salisbury University generally make around $20,632. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
St Marys College Of Maryland ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,298, compared with $31,374 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $22,655. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of St Marys College Of Maryland earn a median of $41,665 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Bowie State University landed the #10 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bowie. In-state tuition and fees average $9,218, compared with $19,938 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,474 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $47,668. Set against $28,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowie State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Mcdaniel College placed #11 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Westminster. In-state tuition and fees average $52,081. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Mcdaniel College generally make around $54,904. Set against $23,247 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mcdaniel College admits about 78% of applicants.
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,800. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Maryland Institute College Of Art generally make around $25,693. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maryland Institute College Of Art admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.