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2023 Best Value Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Great Lakes Region

103 Ranked Colleges
19,622 Degrees Awarded
$12,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 149,215 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 19,622 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,942 and $26,129 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 103 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The visual & performing arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Madison Area Technical College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison College is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region visual & performing arts students list, Madison College has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,053 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Madison Area Technical College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Madison Area Technical College

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stout. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, and it awarded 173 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region visual & performing arts students list, UW - Stout has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at UW - Stout

3

Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 40 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,721 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Milwaukee Area Technical College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at MATC

4
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Technical College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Western Technical College is a small school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 28 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Western Technical College is $10,279 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Western Technical College

5

Out of the 103 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Sinclair Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Dayton, Ohio, and it awarded 204 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,959 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Sinclair Community College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Sinclair Community College

6
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #6, Gateway Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Gateway Technical College is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Gateway Technical College is $8,487 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Gateway Technical College

7
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ferris is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 165 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Ferris State University is $12,213 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full Ferris Visual & Performing Arts Report

8
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

With a ranking of #8, Macomb Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Macomb Community College is a fairly large school located in Warren, Michigan that handed out 74 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Macomb Community College is $9,982 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Macomb Community College

9

With a ranking of #9, Waukesha County Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Waukesha County Technical College is a public institution located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Waukesha County Technical College is $9,749 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at WCTC

10

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 140 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $13,346 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

11

Northern Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. NIU is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 188 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $13,956 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

Full Northern Illinois University Visual & Performing Arts Report

12

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 125 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $16,051 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Full UW - Eau Claire Visual & Performing Arts Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 80 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

14
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 140 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $16,007 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Central Michigan Visual & Performing Arts Report

15
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 210 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

Full Ivy Tech Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

16

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 32 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,654 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UW - La Crosse Visual & Performing Arts Report

17
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 269 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $20,371 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at WMU

18

Illinois State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 309 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region visual & performing arts students list, Illinois State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $20,830 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois State

19

University of Wisconsin - River Falls ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 44 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,844 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students per year to attend UW - River Falls.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UW - River Falls

20

Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a fairly large public school situated in Cleveland, Ohio. It awarded 90 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

21
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at EIU

22

University of Wisconsin - Whitewater ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and it awarded 112 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $14,417 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Whitewater.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UW - Whitewater

23

Grand Valley State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Allendale, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 174 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $17,356 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Grand Valley State University

24

Western Illinois University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 79 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,305 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Western Illinois University.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at WIU

25

Youngstown State University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Youngstown State University is a fairly large public school situated in Youngstown, Ohio. It awarded 76 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full Youngstown State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

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References

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