Cheapest Fine and Studio Arts Colleges in Indiana

Indiana University-Northwest offers the state's most affordable Fine and Studio Arts program at just $5,970 net cost, making it nearly three times cheaper than Ball State University's $15,898 program. This dramatic price range of $5,970 to $20,230 across Indiana's art schools reflects the state's commitment to accessible creative education through its regional campus system. Graduates earn between $21,964 and $30,047 annually, with Ball State producing the highest earners at $30,047. Indiana's growing healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, anchored by employers like Eli Lilly, increasingly value creative professionals for marketing, user experience design, and medical illustration roles. The state's 21st Century Scholars program further reduces costs for qualifying students, while regional campuses like IU-Northwest serve working artists in manufacturing centers like Gary. Public universities dominate the affordable options, with seven of the ten cheapest programs housed within the Indiana University system.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Indiana University campuses so affordable for art students?

The IU system occupies six of the ten cheapest spots, with net costs ranging from $5,970 at IU-Northwest to $9,082 at IU-East. These regional campuses maintain lower overhead costs while sharing resources with the main Bloomington campus. In-state tuition stays consistent at $8,179 across most IU campuses, though net costs vary based on local living expenses and financial aid availability.

How do graduation rates compare between cheap and expensive programs?

Higher-priced programs generally show stronger completion rates, with Oakland City University achieving 70% graduation despite its $12,820 cost. Meanwhile, the cheapest option at IU-Northwest graduates just 36.90% of students. Ball State University balances both factors well, graduating 63.30% of students while charging $15,898 net cost, suggesting that moderate investment can yield better outcomes.

Where do Indiana art graduates find the best earning potential?

Ball State University graduates earn the highest salaries at $30,047 annually, followed by IU-Bloomington at $29,092. Purdue Fort Wayne also produces strong earners at $28,753 despite its lower $11,513 net cost. The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries in Indianapolis create demand for medical illustrators and graphic designers, while manufacturing centers need product designers and marketing creatives.

Is student debt manageable at Indiana's art programs?

Most programs keep debt reasonable, with IU-Southeast averaging just $18,092 in student loans despite low post-graduation earnings of $21,964. University of Southern Indiana offers the best debt-to-earnings ratio at $18,750 debt versus $26,585 earnings. However, Indiana State University students graduate with $26,959 in debt while earning only $25,194, creating potential financial strain.

Does acceptance rate indicate program competitiveness or accessibility?

Most Indiana art programs maintain high acceptance rates above 80%, with Indiana State accepting 92.30% of applicants and University of Southern Indiana accepting 94.44%. Purdue's main campus proves most selective at 52.70% acceptance, reflecting its engineering reputation extending to technical art fields. Oakland City University accepts just 55.72% but offers the highest graduation rate among affordable options at 70%.

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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.