[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
For return on investment in general visual & performing arts, no school beat Washtenaw Community College this year. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Parkside earned it the #4 place for general visual & performing arts. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,270 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,429 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,485 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,365. Set against $24,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Whitewater one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. In-state tuition and fees average $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $28,226. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas came in at #6 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public school located in the town of New Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,211, while out-of-state students pay about $17,969. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $23,569. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,464. Set against $23,569 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #7 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $29,350. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. Set against $29,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $50,688. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,460. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne earn a median of $27,684 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Michigan State University landed the #10 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $25,213. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $54,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #12 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $18,819. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $58,659. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Elmhurst College landed the #14 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $22,400. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $51,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
