Best Value Fine and Studio Arts Colleges in Indiana

Ball State University graduates with Fine and Studio Arts degrees earn the highest median salaries at $30,047, while Indiana University-Northwest offers the most affordable path at just $5,970 net cost. This creates a fascinating value proposition across Indiana's 20 programs, where public universities dominate the low-cost options but vary significantly in graduate outcomes. The state's growing creative economy benefits from major employers like Eli Lilly's marketing departments and Indianapolis's expanding media sector, which increasingly seek visual artists and designers. Indiana University-Bloomington stands out with an 81.20% graduation rate despite charging $15,342 net cost, while some regional campuses struggle with completion rates below 40%. Private institutions like Earlham College present a different challenge, charging $24,516 but producing graduates earning only $15,922. The 21st Century Scholars program helps bridge these gaps for qualifying students, making even higher-cost options more accessible to Indiana residents pursuing creative careers.

Programs

$5,970 – $43,465

Net Price Range

$25,338

Avg. Program Earnings

58.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

36 Fine and Studio Arts Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana	$5,970	$26,353	$8,179	36.9%	80.3%
2	Indiana University-Southeast New Albany, Indiana	$8,257	$21,964	$8,179	33.4%	85.2%
3	Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana	$8,364	$22,192	$8,179	35.7%	86.9%
4	Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$11,513	$28,753	$9,254	32.5%	80.7%
5	Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$11,408	$26,531	$10,449	53.9%	82.9%
6	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, Indiana	$12,621	$26,585	$10,136	52.0%	94.4%
7	Indiana State University Terre Haute, Indiana	$12,188	$25,194	$9,992	41.1%	92.3%
8	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, Indiana	$15,342	$29,092	$11,790	81.2%	82.4%
9	Ball State University Muncie, Indiana	$15,898	$30,047	$10,758	63.3%	69.0%
10	Taylor University Upland, Indiana	$24,327	$28,598	$39,104	76.6%	74.6%
11	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, Indiana	$23,069	$22,824	$31,168	66.3%	86.7%
12	Earlham College Richmond, Indiana	$24,516	$15,922	$51,840	67.9%	73.2%
13	University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana	$20,361		$35,420	60.7%	98.1%
14	Oakland City University Oakland City, Indiana	$12,820		$27,150	70.0%	55.7%
15	University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, Indiana	$27,823		$62,693	96.8%	12.9%
16	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana	$43,465		$33,490	52.3%	78.2%
17	Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana	$28,552		$51,430	76.5%	83.9%
18	Marian University Indianapolis, Indiana	$23,594		$39,100	60.9%	93.8%
19	Manchester University North Manchester, Indiana	$19,268		$37,090	44.8%	66.4%
20	Valparaiso University Valparaiso, Indiana	$21,583		$46,588	67.0%	94.2%
21	Wabash College Crawfordsville, Indiana	$21,906		$49,125	77.1%	61.5%
22	Anderson University Anderson, Indiana	$22,144		$35,640	49.4%	51.8%
23	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, Indiana	$13,945		$9,992	83.1%	52.7%
24	Indiana University-East Richmond, Indiana	$9,082		$8,179	45.4%	77.6%
25	Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, Indiana	$6,276		$8,179	44.7%	85.8%
26	University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana	$18,748		$36,136	55.8%	76.1%
27	Huntington University Huntington, Indiana	$13,710		$29,982	68.2%	77.5%
28	Holy Cross College Notre Dame, Indiana	$26,470		$35,500	29.5%	76.2%
29	Hanover College Hanover, Indiana	$21,826		$42,894	63.6%	74.1%
30	Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, Indiana	$18,406		$30,034	69.9%	84.6%
31	Goshen College Goshen, Indiana	$15,725		$37,760	60.5%	93.5%
32	Franklin College Franklin, Indiana	$22,762		$37,350	63.4%	92.9%
33	University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana	$20,230		$42,676	71.3%	76.3%
34	DePauw University Greencastle, Indiana	$24,546		$57,070	80.0%	65.8%
35	Calumet College of Saint Joseph Whiting, Indiana	$20,739		$22,650	29.9%
36	Bethel University Mishawaka, Indiana	$19,726		$33,320	57.2%	99.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Ball State University worth the $15,898 cost for Fine Arts students?

Ball State graduates earn $30,047 annually, the highest among Indiana's Fine and Studio Arts programs. The university maintains a strong 63.30% graduation rate and accepts 68.95% of applicants. With student debt averaging $25,000, graduates see solid returns on their investment in Indiana's creative job market.

How do Indiana's public university costs compare for Fine Arts programs?

Net costs range dramatically from $5,970 at IU-Northwest to $15,898 at Ball State University. Most regional campuses charge between $8,000-12,000 annually, while flagship programs like IU-Bloomington cost $15,342. In-state tuition varies from $8,179 to $11,790 across the public system.

Is Earlham College a good value despite its $24,516 cost?

Earlham presents a concerning value proposition with graduates earning just $15,922, the lowest among all programs listed. Despite a solid 67.90% graduation rate and 73.24% acceptance rate, the earnings-to-cost ratio makes this private option financially challenging. Students should carefully consider career goals before committing to this investment.

Does Indiana University-Bloomington justify its higher cost for Fine Arts?

IU-Bloomington charges $15,342 but delivers an outstanding 81.20% graduation rate, far above most competitors. Graduates earn $29,092 annually with manageable debt of $18,302. The combination of strong completion rates and solid earnings makes this flagship program worth the premium cost.

Where can students find the most affordable Fine Arts education in Indiana?

Indiana University-Northwest offers the lowest net cost at $5,970 with graduates earning $26,353 annually. IU-Southeast and IU-South Bend follow closely at around $8,300 each. These regional campuses provide accessible entry points, though graduation rates hover around 35% compared to flagship programs.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.