[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 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.
For return on investment in general visual & performing arts, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Asheville this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,501, compared with $24,849 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $23,023. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Elizabeth City State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,536, while out-of-state students pay about $10,536. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Elizabeth City State University generally make around $28,300. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
North Carolina Central University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $42,873 early in their careers. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Salem College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Salem College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $33,848. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $26,789. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
