by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
General Visual & Performing Arts is the 116th most popular major in the country with 6,355 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, general visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,134 and had an average of $26,019 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 844 general visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,687 and $20,724 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 40 colleges that offer a degree in general visual and performing arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in general visual and performing arts.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The visual arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region visual arts students.
Out of the 40 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Advancing Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Advancing Technology is a small school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 20 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Advancing Technology
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Dallas. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region. UT Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 302 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UT Dallas
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rogers State University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region. Rogers State University is a public institution located in Claremore, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Navajo Technical University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region. Crownpoint, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Navajo Tech
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Oklahoma College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region. This small school is located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 9 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Northern Oklahoma College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #6, Pima Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Pima Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 46 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Pima County Community College District
With a ranking of #7, Austin Community College District did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Austin Community College District is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Austin Community College District
With a ranking of #8, Rice University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 26 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Rice University
Prescott College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Prescott, Arizona is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Prescot College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
San Jacinto Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Pasadena, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 63 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at San Jacinto Community College
New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus General Visual & Performing Arts Report
University of New Mexico - Main Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it awarded 35 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of New Mexico - Main Campus General Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #13, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology is a small public school situated in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. It awarded 4 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Oklahoma Baptist University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. OBU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Oklahoma Baptist University General Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #15, The University of Texas at Austin did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 84 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
New Mexico State University - Dona Ana ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. New Mexico State University - Dona Ana is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full New Mexico State University - Dona Ana General Visual & Performing Arts Report
University of Houston - Downtown came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Houston - Downtown is a public institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UH Downtown
Santa Fe Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Santa Fe Community College is a small school located in Santa Fe, New Mexico that handed out 4 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Coconino Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #19. Coconino Community College is a small public school situated in Flagstaff, Arizona. It awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Coconino Community College
Lubbock Christian University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Lubbock, Texas, this large public school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #22, Grand Canyon University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Grand Canyon University is a large school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 47 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Grand Canyon University General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 23 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Arizona State University - Tempe General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 18 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Texas A&M University - College Station
Chandler-Gilbert Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Chandler, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. ASU - Skysong is a large public school situated in Scottsdale, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #25, Scottsdale Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Scottsdale Community College
With a ranking of #25, Estrella Mountain Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Estrella Mountain Community College is located in Avondale, Arizona and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
Full Estrella Mountain Community College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
GateWay Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. GateWay Community College is a small public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full GateWay Community College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
South Mountain Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. South Mountain Community College is a small public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at South Mountain Community College
Phoenix College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Phoenix College is a public institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Phoenix College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Glendale Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Glendale Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Glendale, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Glendale Community College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Western New Mexico University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Western New Mexico University is located in Silver City, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Western New Mexico University
Navarro College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. Navarro College is a medium-sized school located in Corsicana, Texas that handed out 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Navarro College
University of Arizona came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Arizona is a large public school situated in Tucson, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Arizona
Paradise Valley Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Paradise Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Paradise Valley Community College
East Texas Baptist University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region list. East Texas Baptist University is located in Marshall, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at East Texas Baptist University
Mesa Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Mesa Community College is a fairly large school located in Mesa, Arizona that handed out 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Mesa Community College
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Rio Salado College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Rio Salado College General Visual & Performing Arts Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
