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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k)

29 Ranked Colleges
355 Degrees Awarded
$29,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master's 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 a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 6,359 people earned their degree in general visual and performing arts, making the major the 125th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $24,577 and had an average of $26,968 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 355 general visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 29 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank General Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#1

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 3 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UF not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UF

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 53 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Harvard University

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. UCF is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 73 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCF has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657.

Full University of Central Florida General Visual & Performing Arts Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 19 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Cal State LA

#5

The City College of New York

New York, New York
#18 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The City College of New York. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

CCNY also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. Average graduate tuition and fees at CCNY are $20,832, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full CCNY General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#6

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#24 in overall quality

Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 5 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brooklyn College, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

#5 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #5 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Texas A&M College Station

#23 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCR is a public institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCR, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Riverside General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#21 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, IUPUI has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full IUPUI General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#11 in overall quality

Iowa State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. Iowa State is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa State

With a ranking of #11, University of California - San Diego did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. La Jolla, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UCSD has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UCSD

#12

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana

The University of Montana came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UM is located in Missoula, Montana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UM has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UM are $23,242.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at The University of Montana

#13

The College at Brockport

Brockport, New York

The College at Brockport came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The College at Brockport is a medium-sized school located in Brockport, New York that handed out 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SUNY Brockport are $24,080, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at The College at Brockport

#14

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
#4 in overall quality

Carnegie Mellon University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carnegie Mellon, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Carnegie Mellon University are $47,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Carnegie Mellon

#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Dallas are $28,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UT Dallas General Visual & Performing Arts Report

#16

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. WVU is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at West Virginia University are $26,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at West Virginia University

#17

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 15 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Southern California

#18

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#14 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 8 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #14 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

#19

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University at Buffalo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University at Buffalo is a large public school situated in Buffalo, New York. It awarded 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, University at Buffalo has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University at Buffalo

#19 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Missouri State, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri State are $12,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Missouri State

#21

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#13 in overall quality

George Mason University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GMU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at GMU are $37,410.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at George Mason University

#22

Syracuse University

Syracuse, New York
#10 in overall quality

Syracuse University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Syracuse, New York, and it awarded 3 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Syracuse also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Syracuse University are $41,714, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Syracuse University

#23

College of Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina
#25 in overall quality

College of Charleston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. C of C is a fairly large public school situated in Charleston, South Carolina. It awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

C of C did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at College of Charleston are $36,592, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at C of C

#24

Purchase College

Purchase, New York

Purchase College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Purchase, New York, and it awarded 8 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purchase College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purchase College are $24,983, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Purchase College

Columbus College of Art and Design landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Columbus College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 15 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

CCAD also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CCAD are $37,370, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbus College of Art and Design

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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