2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Kentucky

[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 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for fine & studio arts students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools
Northern Kentucky University earned the #1 spot for value among fine & studio arts schools in Kentucky. Northern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the suburb of Highland Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,724 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $31,448 early in their careers. Set against $25,724 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Murray State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $24,619. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $21,715 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,619 median debt. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Morehead State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $17,301. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,291. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #5 place for fine & studio arts. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $27,375. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $25,596. That is a strong return on a $27,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Georgetown College landed the #6 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,840 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,938 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Georgetown College earn a median of $43,752 early in their careers. Set against $26,938 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgetown College admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Louisville ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $28,485. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Kentucky placed #8 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, compared with $34,140 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,614 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. Set against $23,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Centre College earned the #9 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the town of Danville, Centre College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,820. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,560 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Centre College earn a median of $32,327 early in their careers. Set against $26,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Bellarmine University placed #10 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $48,770 in tuition and fees. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $46,024 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
More Fine & Studio Arts Rankings
View All Fine & Studio Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.