by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Visual Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a general visual performing arts degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the early-career earnings of their general visual performing arts graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose general visual performing arts graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in general visual performing arts, no school beat Harvard University this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the general visual performing arts program here go on to a median salary of roughly $115,516.
Students chasing top earnings in general visual performing arts will find them at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design, which ranked #2. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. General Visual Performing Arts graduates of Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn a median of about $69,907 a year early in their careers.
University Of Central Florida produces some of the highest-paid graduates in general visual performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Central Florida is a public school located in the suburb of Orlando. General Visual Performing Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of about $62,652 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California San Diego one of the highest-paying schools for general visual performing arts. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a public institution. Early-career general visual performing arts graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $42,918 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Regent University earned it the #5 place for general visual performing arts. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career general visual performing arts graduates from Regent University make a median of around $36,357 per year.
California State University Los Angeles landed the #6 spot for general visual performing arts salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. General Visual Performing Arts graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $22,247 a year early in their careers.
Explore the highest-paying general visual performing arts schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their general visual performing arts graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.