by our College Data Analytics Team
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for fine & studio arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in fine & studio arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Northern Virginia Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools in Virginia. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $40,126. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Radford University, which ranked #2. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $23,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Thomas Nelson Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,088, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Students borrow a median of $14,402 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $36,758. That is a strong return on a $14,402 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Old Dominion University one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $27,535. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes George Mason University one of the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $23,529. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $63,131. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Norfolk State University placed #6 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,682. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $54,971. The acceptance rate is 88%.
College Of William And Mary earned the #7 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $29,752. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington placed #8 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $24,013. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mary Washington admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #9 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $23,372. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Lynchburg College came in at #10 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,750. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Lynchburg College earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers. Lynchburg College admits about 43% of applicants.
Hollins University earned the #11 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Roanoke. In-state tuition and fees average $43,560. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Hollins University generally make around $26,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
James Madison University earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Students borrow a median of $23,001 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $33,501. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #13 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $23,374. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $20,934. Set against $23,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #14 spot for fine & studio arts value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,323. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $36,927. Set against $26,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Richmond came in at #15 for value in fine & studio arts this year. University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of University of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,230. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $21,634. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Richmond admits about 22% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.