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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k)

123 Ranked Colleges
6,355 Degrees Awarded
$6,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

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 “Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

General Visual & Performing Arts is the 116th most popular major in the country with 6,355 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,134 and had an average of $26,019 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 123 colleges that offered a degree in general visual and performing arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general visual and performing arts programs, but they also cost less that 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 general visual and performing arts program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank General Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Visual Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The visual 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 Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k)

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Out of the 123 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Duke University landed the #1 spot on the list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Duke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Duke is $371 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Duke

2
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

UF also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UF is $65 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UF

3
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Yale did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Yale is $961 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 General Visual & Performing Arts at Yale

4
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 13 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UPenn is $580 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UPenn

5
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. Rice University is located in Houston, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Rice has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $4,443 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Rice University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Rice University

6

Austin Community College District did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.

Austin Community College District not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Community College District is $3,264 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

7

University of Central Florida landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Central Florida is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 470 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UCF also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UCF is $4,468 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UCF General Visual & Performing Arts Report

8

University of California - San Diego ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 99 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UCSD also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $9,823 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UCSD.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, 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 more about General Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - San Diego

9
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Brooklyn, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Brooklyn College is $1,547 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

10

The City College of New York landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 5 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for The City College of New York is $1,254 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at CCNY

11

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 84 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UT Austin also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $13,753 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at UT Austin

12
Pima County Community College District crest
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona

Pima Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 46 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Pima Community College is $2,831 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Pima County Community College District

13

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Richardson, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 302 students in 2020-2021.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Dallas is $11,070 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas General Visual & Performing Arts Report

14

Queensborough Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. QCC is a fairly large public school situated in Bayside, New York. It awarded 67 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,866 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend QCC.

Full Queensborough Community College General Visual & Performing Arts Report

15

Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 5 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. It costs about $9,873 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Columbia University in the City of New York.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia

16
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

With a ranking of #16, Lehman College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Bronx, New York, and it awarded 14 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $881 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lehman College.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Lehman College

17

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,026 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend IUPUI.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at IUPUI

18

Suffolk County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Selden, New York, and it awarded 63 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Suffolk County Community College is $2,585 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Suffolk County Community College

19

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 13 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cal State LA is $1,887 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles General Visual & Performing Arts Report

20
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

Carnegie Mellon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. It costs about $16,456 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Carnegie Mellon University

21
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #21, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

USC also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #6. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $17,287 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 General Visual & Performing Arts at USC

22

Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Tempe is $8,969 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at ASU - Tempe

23

Iowa State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa State also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $9,766 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 General Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa State University

24
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UK is a large school located in Lexington, Kentucky that handed out 45 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UK has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kentucky is $12,593 for Visual Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 University of Kentucky General Visual & Performing Arts Report

25

Borough of Manhattan Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. BMCC is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 46 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Borough of Manhattan Community College is $4,920 for visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Borough of Manhattan Community College

Notes and References

References

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