[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 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.
California State University Los Angeles earned the #1 spot for value among general visual & performing arts schools in the United States. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, compared with $19,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $14,430. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $22,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #2 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. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,144. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,196 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,494. Set against $21,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $115,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Wilson College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Chambersburg, Wilson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,100. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $34,814 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wilson College generally make around $58,020. That is a strong return on a $34,814 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Academy Of Art University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Academy Of Art University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. Students from in state pay about $30,736 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,494. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Visual & Performing Arts rankings across degree levels:
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.
