[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong general visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 49 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. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pima Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,541 in student loans. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,344. Set against $9,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College 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 Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $11,376. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $21,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico State University Dona Ana earned it the #4 place for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,322, with out-of-state students paying around $6,360. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $10,284. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,284 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes New Mexico State University Main Campus one of the best values for general visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,183, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University came in at #6 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $11,904. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $75,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
Arizona State University placed #7 among the best values for general visual & performing arts. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $22,625. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $22,817. That is a strong return on a $22,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Rogers State University landed the #8 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of Claremore, Rogers State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,750, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,936 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rogers State University generally make around $45,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Dallas ranked #9 on our 2026 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. Students from in state pay about $14,644 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,144 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $21,196. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,494. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Houston Downtown landed the #10 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Downtown is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,582, with out-of-state students paying around $17,434. Students borrow a median of $23,925 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Houston Downtown earn a median of $19,527 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,925 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #11 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $29,707 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Tarleton State University came in at #12 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, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $23,222. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of $50,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Advancing Technology came in at #13 for value in general visual & performing arts this year. University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $18,800 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $29,750. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,824. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Advancing Technology admits about 98% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #14 spot for general visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,420 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Set against $22,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University earned the #15 position for value in general visual & performing arts this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Students borrow a median of $26,991 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $24,691 early in their careers. Set against $26,991 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
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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 · 49 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
