2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Minnesota
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 Minnesota
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 Normandale Community College, our #1 best value for fine & studio arts in Minnesota. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,329 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,162 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $23,956 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $20,192. That is a strong return on a $23,956 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in fine & studio arts will find it at Winona State University, which ranked #3. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $10,576 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $53,109. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winona State University admits about 76% of applicants.
Anoka Ramsey Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,682. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $22,593 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $44,293. That is a strong return on a $22,593 median debt.
University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,134 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $24,624 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $25,660. Set against $24,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #6 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $38,717 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #7 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,197. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $44,396. Set against $26,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
St Olaf College earned the #8 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,760. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $25,000. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $26,870 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. St Olaf College admits about 48% of applicants.
Carleton College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,892. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Carleton College generally make around $45,096. Set against $17,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carleton College admits about 20% of applicants.
College Of Saint Benedict placed #10 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Saint Joseph, College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,756. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $26,619. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of College Of Saint Benedict earn a median of $47,105 early in their careers. Set against $26,619 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,484. Students borrow a median of $30,250 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $19,524 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Macalester College earned the #12 position for value in fine & studio arts this year. Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,104. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $22,147. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Macalester College earn a median of $42,517 early in their careers. Set against $22,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Macalester College admits about 28% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
