[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Washtenaw Community College the best value for a degree in general visual & performing arts in Michigan. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $17,616. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Central Michigan University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,857 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $50,688 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $25,213. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $54,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
More General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
