[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
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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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools in Mississippi. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $11,653. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delta State University earned it the #2 place for general visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,605 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,839. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
A rank of #3 makes Mississippi State University one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $24,752. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Southern Mississippi earned it the #4 place for general visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants.
Jackson State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. Students from in state pay about $8,965 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,965. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $31,000. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Jackson State University earn a median of $23,555 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
