[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
For return on investment in general visual & performing arts, no school beat Austin Community College District this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $29,669 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Pima Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $9,541. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $25,344. 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 New Mexico State University Dona Ana, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,322 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $39,399. That is a strong return on a $10,284 median debt.
New Mexico State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $18,470. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Houston Downtown one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,582 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,434. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,925 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Houston Downtown generally make around $19,527. Set against $23,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
San Jacinto Community College earned the #6 position for value in general visual & performing arts this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $21,173. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rice University landed the #7 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Arizona State University came in at #8 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $22,817. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #9 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $16,750. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,286. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,644, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,196 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $28,494 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Dallas admits about 65% of applicants.
Rogers State University came in at #11 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Claremore, Rogers State University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,936 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rogers State University generally make around $45,644. That is a strong return on a $22,936 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $29,707. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Texas Tech University placed #13 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $50,332. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Tarleton State University earned the #14 position for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $23,222. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $50,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tarleton State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $22,420 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $64,891. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University came in at #16 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $24,691. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Advancing Technology landed the #17 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Tempe, University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $29,750. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Advancing Technology earn a median of $27,824 early in their careers. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Advancing Technology admits about 98% of applicants.
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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 · 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.
