[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 5 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.
For return on investment in general visual & performing arts, no school beat Columbus State Community College this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Kent State University At Tuscarawas one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Bowling Green State University Main Campus one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. 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. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Cincinnati Main Campus one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. 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. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,530 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 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
View All General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
