[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for general visual & performing arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Chemeketa Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general visual & performing arts schools in Oregon. Chemeketa Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $6,345 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,040. Students borrow a median of $15,755 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Chemeketa Community College generally make around $45,440. That is a strong return on a $15,755 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Oregon State University one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $24,043. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $51,000. That is a strong return on a $24,043 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #3 makes Pacific Northwest College Of Art one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Portland, Pacific Northwest College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,006. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,950 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pacific Northwest College Of Art generally make around $13,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
