by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 432 U.S. colleges awarded 7,856 degrees and certificates in General Visual & Performing Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 170 schools in its 2027 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,264 one year after completing, rising to $43,860 after four years.
If you enjoy creating something that allows you to connect to your audience, either through your voice, movement, designs, or images, consider a degree in Visual and Performing Arts.
Students who major in this field have a passion for the arts. They are creative and like to provide an audience with visual, auditory, and kinesthetic stimulation. Classes in topics such as drawing, painting, dance, sculpting, acting, foreign language, graphic design, photography and more allow students to develop and improve their skill in the arts.
You may choose to focus on either general Visual and Performing Arts or concentrate on Digital Arts.Studying General Visual & Performing Arts explores Visual And Performing Arts, General.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general visual & performing arts draws strong interest, with 7,856 degrees awarded annually. 432 colleges award general visual & performing arts degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 519.
By level, the 7,856 awards include 154 certificates, 2,092 associate degrees, 4,770 bachelor’s degrees, 688 master’s degrees and 28 doctorates.
Women earned 60% of general visual & performing arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,752 of 7,856). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,488) and Hispanic or Latino (1,963), and international students earned 276.
College Factual ranks 170 schools in its 2027 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking, including 55 for associate degrees, 101 for bachelor’s degrees, 5 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks general visual & performing arts schools within 31 states. In all, 432 colleges offer general visual & performing arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Visual & Performing Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general visual & performing arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 4,770 of the 7,856 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general visual & performing arts call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Originality and Written Comprehension.
Students who pursue a degree in Visual and Performing Arts typically already have a passion and talent for their artistic field. They are creative and provide innovative works or performances that are unique and thought provoking. Interpersonal and communication skills are necessary in this field because you will be required to work with other artists, gallery owners, fellow performers, and the general public. These skills will also help you in selling or marketing your work.
Many artists and other professionals in the performing arts support themselves with additional jobs while they work on their art. Dancers, singers, actors and other types of artistic occupations also vary between full and part time. Those who are lucky enough to become part of a company will work full time often with irregular hours for practices and performances.
Depending on the area you decide to go into, formal schooling may not be necessary. Some people decide to pursue only an associate's degree. However, other areas of specialization require at least a bachelor's degree. It is best to look into the career you want to pursue to ensure you are meeting all requirements.
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How long a general visual & performing arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 154 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2,092 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,770 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 688 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 28 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general visual & performing arts, at 33.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 33.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.3% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to General Visual & Performing Arts, with an average median salary of $72,501; the strongest outlook belongs to Artists and Related Workers, All Other, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Ballet Professor, Elementary Art Instructor, Assistant Professor and Digital Arts Instructor.
Visual and Performing Arts graduates are employed at in a variety of artistic careers. Graduates have pursued careers as artists, curators, fashion designers, producers, choreographers, musicians, and designers. Some graduates are working for companies, while others have started their own business or are self-employed.
The Visual and Performing Arts field is made up of multiple specializations. This can be a very competitive field, especially for full time positions.
The occupation related to general visual & performing arts with the most projected jobs is Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,074,154.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | 427,793 | 13.9% |
| Craft Artists | 402,867 | 5.7% |
| Graphic Designers | 267,813 | 4.6% |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | 147,527 | -4.1% |
| Art Directors | 105,166 | 1.0% |
| Photographers | 81,551 | -3.6% |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | 40,928 | 6.1% |
General Visual & Performing Arts graduates earn a median $27,264 one year after completing their program, $43,860 after four years and $40,988 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,264 |
| 4 years | $43,860 |
| 5 years | $40,988 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general visual & performing arts is Art Directors, with a median salary of $103,285.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Art Directors | $103,285 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $83,610 |
| Craft Artists | $76,826 |
| Photographers | $75,743 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $69,338 |
| Graphic Designers | $66,386 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $57,836 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
General Visual & Performing Arts includes 2 concentrations that together award 7,856 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Digital Arts (4,348) and Visual and Performing Arts, General (3,508). It has 10 similar majors in the Visual & Performing Arts field, which together award 150,414 degrees a year; the largest are Design and Applied Arts (39,906), Fine and Studio Arts (39,642) and Music (26,269). Browse all Visual & Performing Arts majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Digital Arts | 4,348 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 3,508 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 39,906 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 39,642 |
| Music | 26,269 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 19,222 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,328 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,713 |
| Dance | 3,317 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 964 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 46 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 7 |
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