[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 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.
Mercer County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among general visual & performing arts schools in New Jersey. Located in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,310, with out-of-state students paying around $9,174. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $12,250. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mercer County Community College earn a median of $45,389 early in their careers. Set against $12,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Middlesex County College, which ranked #2. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Ocean County College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,906, compared with $6,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $13,792. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,306. That is a strong return on a $13,792 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of Galloway, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,266, compared with $24,524 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $20,705. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Bloomfield College, which ranked #5. Bloomfield College is a small public school located in the suburb of Bloomfield. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $26,000. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bloomfield College earn a median of $17,625 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bloomfield College admits about 70% of applicants.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey placed #6 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Mahwah. In-state tuition and fees average $16,777, with out-of-state students paying around $27,708. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,926 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,545. That is a strong return on a $25,926 median debt. Ramapo College Of New Jersey admits about 71% of applicants.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,468. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $24,701. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham generally make around $53,216. Set against $24,701 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham admits about 95% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 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.
