2027 Best Value Fine & Studio Arts Schools in Missouri
[Fine & Studio Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/fine-and-studio-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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 Missouri
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
Our analysis ranked Missouri Southern State University the best value for a degree in fine & studio arts in Missouri. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $22,241 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $29,309. That is a strong return on a $22,241 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Truman State University earned it the #2 place for fine & studio arts. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $15,998. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Jefferson College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,850. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $47,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Missouri Kansas City is a great value for students pursuing a degree in fine & studio arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $25,476. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Missouri came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, compared with $18,600 for out-of-state students. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $27,236. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis placed #6 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $28,837. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $32,224. That is a strong return on a $28,837 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
East Central College placed #7 among the best values for fine & studio arts. Located in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, compared with $7,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for fine & studio arts graduates is $12,062. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of East Central College earn a median of $37,925 early in their careers. Set against $12,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Missouri State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $28,421. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #9 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $24,024. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
Lindenwood University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,600. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $48,197. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #11 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $23,034. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #12 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,790. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Culver Stockton College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Located in the rural area of Canton, Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,875. Students borrow a median of $27,252 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Soon after graduation, fine & studio arts degree recipients from Culver Stockton College generally make around $38,725. Set against $27,252 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Culver Stockton College admits about 99% of applicants.
Columbia College Missouri came in at #14 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Columbia College Missouri is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,276. Students borrow a median of $29,213 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Early-career fine & studio arts graduates make about $47,962. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Webster University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value fine & studio arts schools. Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Students borrow a median of $25,939 to complete the fine & studio arts program here. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Webster University earn a median of $57,152 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Kansas City Art Institute came in at #16 for value in fine & studio arts this year. Kansas City Art Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,550. Fine & Studio Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Fine & Studio Arts graduates of Kansas City Art Institute earn a median of $22,906 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
