[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general visual & performing arts schools.
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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.
Our analysis ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College the best value for a degree in general visual & performing arts in Mississippi. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,214. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Mississippi Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Scooba. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,095, with out-of-state students paying around $7,445. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,422 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $34,012. Set against $9,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mississippi University For Women came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,492. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $24,509. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mississippi University For Women generally make around $42,756. Set against $24,509 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mississippi University For Women admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, with out-of-state students paying around $11,998. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $25,415. 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. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Mississippi State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,202, compared with $27,637 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Jackson State University came in at #6 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,965, with out-of-state students paying around $11,965. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Jackson State University earn a median of $23,555 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
More General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
