by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
With 149,215 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. 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.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 324 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. To top this list, a school must have a successful visual and performing arts program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region visual & performing arts students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia College Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 879 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Full Columbia College Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 754 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 749 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 651 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at IU Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 540 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #6, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 531 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at DePaul University
Kent State University at Kent ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Kent, Ohio, and it awarded 410 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Kent State University at Kent
Northwestern University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 378 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northwestern University
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 369 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Ohio State University - Main Campus Visual & Performing Arts Report
Michigan State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 380 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Michigan State University Visual & Performing Arts Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 353 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #12. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 356 students in 2020-2021.
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 332 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Visual & Performing Arts Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 326 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #15, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 309 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Illinois State University
Western Michigan University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 269 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Western Michigan University
With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 457 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Ball State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 232 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Ball State University
Miami University - Oxford landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Oxford, Ohio, this fairly large public school handed out 195 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Miami University - Oxford Visual & Performing Arts Report
College for Creative Studies ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. CCS is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 192 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at College for Creative Studies
With a ranking of #21, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It awarded 190 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Eastern Michigan University Visual & Performing Arts Report
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 190 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Full University of Illinois at Chicago Visual & Performing Arts Report
Columbus College of Art and Design ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Columbus College of Art and Design is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 186 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 188 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University
Grand Valley State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 174 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
