[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general visual & performing arts students.
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.
Cuny Queensborough Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools in New York. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,090. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $10,052. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cuny Queensborough Community College generally make around $23,674. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suffolk County Community College earned it the #2 place for general visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $23,694 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College 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 New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,170, with out-of-state students paying around $8,050. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $11,000. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $9,376 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ulster County Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Stone Ridge, Ulster County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,666, with out-of-state students paying around $12,146. Students borrow a median of $13,354 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ulster County Community College generally make around $47,424. 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 Cuny Bronx Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Bronx, Cuny Bronx Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,206 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,086. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $8,224 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cuny Bronx Community College generally make around $18,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College At Old Westbury came in at #6 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,372, while out-of-state students pay about $18,842. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $20,274. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suny College At Old Westbury earn a median of $44,443 early in their careers. Set against $20,274 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Dutchess Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,670, compared with $10,670 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Dutchess Community College generally make around $32,978. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #8 position for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, with out-of-state students paying around $12,486. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $8,764. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Suny Westchester Community College generally make around $57,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny College At Potsdam landed the #9 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Suny College At Potsdam is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Potsdam. Students from in state pay about $8,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,678 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,485. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Daemen College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,218. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $28,358. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Daemen College earn a median of $63,542 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,358 median debt. Daemen College admits about 68% of applicants.
State University Of New York At New Paltz landed the #11 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of New Paltz, State University Of New York At New Paltz is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,822. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $21,324. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of State University Of New York At New Paltz earn a median of $19,893 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. State University Of New York At New Paltz admits about 62% of applicants.
Suny College At Oneonta placed #12 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,831, compared with $19,781 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $19,135. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Suny At Purchase College earned the #13 position for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Suny At Purchase College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Purchase. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,016, compared with $19,266 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Suny At Purchase College generally make around $22,024. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny At Purchase College admits about 74% of applicants.
Suny College At Cortland placed #14 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,874, while out-of-state students pay about $18,784. Students borrow a median of $25,369 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $38,709 early in their careers. Set against $25,369 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Manhattan College placed #15 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,400 in tuition and fees. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,968 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Manhattan College earn a median of $61,065 early in their careers. Set against $25,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Manhattan College admits about 79% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus landed the #16 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Students borrow a median of $25,211 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $61,547 early in their careers. Set against $25,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
American Musical And Dramatic Academy landed the #17 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $46,928. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $19,500. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn a median of $16,646 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. American Musical And Dramatic Academy admits about 24% of applicants.
More General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
View All General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >
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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
