Cheapest Fine and Studio Arts Colleges in Ohio

Ohio University's regional campuses dominate the most affordable Fine and Studio Arts options, with five locations offering net costs below $6,500. The Eastern Campus in Saint Clairsville leads at just $4,503 annually, while the Southern Campus in Ironton follows at $5,328. These satellite programs create an unusual price spread within a single university system, with graduation rates varying from 12.10% at Chillicothe to 20% at the Eastern Campus. Private options like Antioch College break expectations with a $6,602 net cost despite a $37,143 sticker price. Ohio's creative economy benefits from institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Art and Cincinnati's contemporary arts scene, providing internship and career pathways for graduates. The state's manufacturing heritage also creates demand for industrial design and visual communication professionals. While earnings data shows Fine and Studio Arts graduates earning $21,508 to $27,978 annually, the low entry costs at Ohio University campuses make debt manageable, with consistent $25,250 average debt loads across locations.

Programs

$4,503 – $29,383

Net Price Range

$24,729

Avg. Program Earnings

52.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Fine and Studio Arts Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, Ohio	$4,503	$6,178	20.0%
2	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, Ohio	$5,328	$6,178	19.3%
3	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, Ohio	$5,971	$6,178	17.7%
4	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, Ohio	$6,133	$6,178	13.7%
5	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, Ohio	$6,483	$6,178	12.1%
6	Antioch College Yellow Springs, Ohio	$6,602	$37,143	26.3%	83.0%
7	Kent State University at Stark North Canton, Ohio	$11,310	$7,272	37.3%
8	Youngstown State University Youngstown, Ohio	$11,877	$10,791	52.9%	80.6%
9	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, Ohio	$14,981	$12,799	48.2%	82.9%
10	Wright State University-Main Campus Dayton, Ohio	$15,216	$11,188	45.9%	95.2%
11	Shawnee State University Portsmouth, Ohio	$15,389	$9,622	43.0%
12	Cleveland State University Cleveland, Ohio	$16,065	$12,613	48.9%	85.3%
13	Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati, Ohio	$16,135	$36,650	54.7%	54.4%
14	Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio	$16,544	$7,824	25.6%	88.8%
15	Bluffton University Bluffton, Ohio	$17,430	$36,298	49.5%	96.3%
16	University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio	$17,460	$12,377	55.6%	92.2%
17	Ursuline College Pepper Pike, Ohio	$18,027	$37,860	53.2%	85.1%
18	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, Ohio	$18,292	$12,859	87.7%	52.7%
19	Marietta College Marietta, Ohio	$18,372	$38,974	58.1%	82.9%
20	Wittenberg University Springfield, Ohio	$19,470	$44,602	53.8%	93.9%
21	Ohio Dominican University Columbus, Ohio	$19,476	$34,370	47.9%	52.4%
22	Kent State University at Kent Kent, Ohio	$19,614	$12,846	65.5%	88.0%
23	Walsh University North Canton, Ohio	$20,004	$34,595	61.7%	72.5%
24	Hiram College Hiram, Ohio	$20,088	$26,265	59.1%	93.1%
25	Muskingum University New Concord, Ohio	$20,204	$31,440	52.7%	86.4%
26	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, Ohio	$20,413	$13,746	66.4%	86.5%
27	Notre Dame College Cleveland, Ohio	$20,477	$32,606	36.6%	78.5%
28	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, Ohio	$20,918	$14,081	62.8%	78.7%
29	Lake Erie College Painesville, Ohio	$21,296	$36,032	41.9%	54.1%
30	Lourdes University Sylvania, Ohio	$21,596	$28,930	38.1%	60.4%
31	Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, Ohio	$21,619	$52,357	61.7%	52.2%
32	Mount Vernon Nazarene University Mount Vernon, Ohio	$21,812	$35,524	63.6%	85.3%
33	Ashland University Ashland, Ohio	$21,994	$28,910	60.6%	71.8%
34	Otterbein University Westerville, Ohio	$22,140	$34,899	68.9%	83.7%
35	University of Mount Union Alliance, Ohio	$22,539	$35,400	64.9%	75.8%
36	Franklin University Columbus, Ohio	$22,605	$9,577	30.3%
37	Wilmington College Wilmington, Ohio	$22,872	$30,962	55.1%	88.1%
38	Malone University Canton, Ohio	$22,881	$36,120	51.3%	77.6%
39	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, Ohio	$23,156	$13,570	71.5%	86.2%
40	Capital University Columbus, Ohio	$23,585	$41,788	65.5%	72.2%
41	Defiance College Defiance, Ohio	$23,722	$38,778	36.7%	62.9%
42	The University of Findlay Findlay, Ohio	$23,731	$39,646	62.6%	86.0%
43	Tiffin University Tiffin, Ohio	$23,758	$32,400	43.0%	82.8%
44	Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio	$25,022	$36,078	74.3%	64.9%
45	Ohio Northern University Ada, Ohio	$25,727	$37,800	74.2%	54.4%
46	The College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio	$25,766	$59,550	73.6%	56.3%
47	Baldwin Wallace University Berea, Ohio	$27,654	$37,938	68.6%	77.0%
48	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, Ohio	$27,662	$17,809	81.8%	87.9%
49	John Carroll University University Heights, Ohio	$28,617	$49,100	76.5%	82.4%
50	Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio	$29,383	$69,330	86.8%	34.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Ohio University campuses so affordable for Fine and Studio Arts students?

Ohio University operates five regional campuses with Fine and Studio Arts programs, all maintaining identical in-state tuition of $6,178 but varying net costs from $4,503 to $6,483. These satellite locations benefit from shared resources with the main Athens campus while serving smaller student populations. The campuses maintain consistent debt loads of $25,250 across all locations. Regional economic factors and local cost of living differences contribute to the net price variations between locations like Saint Clairsville and Chillicothe.

How do graduation rates compare across Ohio's most affordable art programs?

Graduation rates vary significantly among budget-friendly options, ranging from 12.10% at Ohio University-Chillicothe to 52.90% at Youngstown State University. The Ohio University regional campuses show completion rates between 12.10% and 20%, while Antioch College achieves 26.30% despite its alternative educational approach. Mount St. Joseph University leads affordable private options with a 54.70% graduation rate. These differences often reflect student demographics and support services available at each campus.

Is Antioch College's low net price sustainable given its private status?

Antioch College achieves a $6,602 net cost despite charging $37,143 in tuition through substantial financial aid packages averaging over $30,000 per student. The Yellow Springs institution operates with an 82.95% acceptance rate and maintains a 26.30% graduation rate. This pricing strategy reflects the college's commitment to accessibility and its unique work-study cooperative education model. However, prospective students should verify current aid availability as private college financial aid can fluctuate with institutional resources.

What career earnings can Fine and Studio Arts graduates expect in Ohio?

Ohio data shows Fine and Studio Arts graduates earning between $21,508 and $27,978 annually in early career positions. The University of Akron reports the lowest at $21,508, while specific earning data varies by institution and specialization. These figures reflect entry-level positions in galleries, design firms, and creative agencies throughout Ohio's major metropolitan areas. The state's growing healthcare and technology sectors also create opportunities for medical illustration, user experience design, and digital media roles that may offer higher compensation.

Where can students find the best value considering both cost and outcomes?

Youngstown State University offers strong value with an $11,877 net cost, 52.90% graduation rate, and $25,774 average earnings. Wright State University provides similar appeal at $15,216 net cost with a 45.90% completion rate and $23,508 earnings. Among the ultra-low-cost options, Ohio University-Eastern Campus combines the lowest net price at $4,503 with the highest graduation rate of 20% among regional campuses. Students should weigh immediate affordability against long-term completion likelihood when choosing between these 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.