2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in New York
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 56 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 New York
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
Cuny Hunter College earned the #1 spot for value among fine & studio arts schools in New York. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,382, while out-of-state students pay about $15,332. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $28,185 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny Brooklyn College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $7,452 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,402. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cuny Brooklyn College generally make around $22,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny Brooklyn College admits about 58% of applicants.
Cuny Lehman College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,360. Students borrow a median of $9,630 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $27,582 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,630 median debt. Cuny Lehman College admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny City College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, with out-of-state students paying around $15,290. Students borrow a median of $15,849 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $24,742. That is a strong return on a $15,849 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Queens College earned it the #5 place for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,538 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,488. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,818 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $24,910. That is a strong return on a $12,818 median debt. Cuny Queens College admits about 64% of applicants.
Cuny Queensborough Community College earned the #6 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,210, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $10,052 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $16,739 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #7 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $13,559 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College landed the #8 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Cuny Laguardia Community College earn a median of $14,920 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny College Of Staten Island landed the #9 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, compared with $15,440 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $14,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $51,911. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Nassau Community College came in at #10 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, while out-of-state students pay about $12,130. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $38,734. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College landed the #11 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $7,858. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Cuny Kingsborough Community College generally make around $35,562. Set against $7,858 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Erie Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,580 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Erie Community College generally make around $37,069. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College landed the #13 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $9,481 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $38,757. That is a strong return on a $9,481 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $12,868. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $43,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Empire State College came in at #15 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Suny Empire State College earn a median of $39,946 early in their careers. Set against $15,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College At Buffalo landed the #16 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,533 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $24,041 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Suny College At Buffalo admits about 73% of applicants.
Dutchess Community College placed #17 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,670, with out-of-state students paying around $10,670. Students borrow a median of $11,836 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $32,978. That is a strong return on a $11,836 median debt.
Onondaga Community College came in at #18 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,102, compared with $11,392 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,623 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. Set against $12,623 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jamestown Community College placed #19 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,840. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $12,800 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $35,520. That is a strong return on a $12,800 median debt.
Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art earned the #20 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of New York, Cooper Union For The Advancement Of Science And Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $46,820 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $16,805 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $16,678. Set against $16,805 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Suny College At Brockport came in at #21 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,752, while out-of-state students pay about $15,822. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $23,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $26,855 early in their careers. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Brockport admits about 71% of applicants.
Suny At Albany ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Suny At Albany generally make around $27,610. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Finger Lakes Community College came in at #23 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the rural area of Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,258, compared with $8,442 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,736. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,467. That is a strong return on a $16,736 median debt.
Stony Brook University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,931 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,741. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $16,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Stony Brook University earn a median of $60,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Suny College At Plattsburgh placed #25 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Plattsburgh, Suny College At Plattsburgh is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,035, compared with $18,945 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,072. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Suny College At Plattsburgh earn a median of $25,762 early in their careers. Set against $25,072 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College At Plattsburgh admits about 78% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for fine & studio arts this year:
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. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 56 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 56 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.
