[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 561 schools to find the best return on investment for general visual & performing arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot for value among general visual & performing arts schools in the United States. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,983 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $30,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of California San Diego came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $15,000. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $16,616. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $115,516 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Dallas one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,644, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. Students borrow a median of $21,196 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,484 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $27,812. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn a median of $69,907 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,812 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Academy Of Art University landed the #6 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,736. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $31,000. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Academy Of Art University earn a median of $28,494 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #7 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $54,623 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago generally make around $38,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago admits about 78% of applicants.
Explore the best-value general visual & performing arts schools at other degree levels:
View All General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 561 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.
