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2027 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

14 Colleges in the United States
441 General Visual & Performing Arts Degrees Awarded
$44,418 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general visual & performing arts programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Visual & Performing Arts in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general visual & performing arts education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in General Visual & Performing Arts

1

University Of Cincinnati Main Campus tops our 2027 ranking of the best general visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 18 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $58,659 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

2
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

A rank of #2 makes Michigan State University one of the top schools for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Michigan State University awarded about 59 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $54,166. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Michigan State University

3

Students looking for a strong general visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $28,226 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for general visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 10 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $61,829 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Illinois At Chicago

5

A rank of #5 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the top schools for general visual & performing arts. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 21 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $49,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Ohio University Main Campus

6

Columbus State Community College placed #6 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 109 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus State Community College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete this degree. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Columbus State Community College

7

University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #7 position for general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. University Of Wisconsin Stout awarded about 39 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. Typical student debt for the program is $29,350. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Wisconsin Stout

8

Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates 61% of students within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 33 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $18,819 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus

9
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College placed #9 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elmhurst. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Elmhurst College awarded about 13 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Elmhurst College

10
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University placed #10 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 17 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $50,688. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Central Michigan University

11

University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne landed the #11 spot for general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne awarded about 10 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $27,684 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne

12

Kent State University At Tuscarawas came in at #12 for general visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of New Philadelphia. Kent State University At Tuscarawas graduates 4% of students within six years. About 29 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Tuscarawas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kent State University At Tuscarawas generally make around $36,464. Typical student debt for the program is $23,569. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Kent State University At Tuscarawas

13

University Of Wisconsin Parkside ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. There were roughly 18 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Parkside in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Parkside generally make around $40,365. Students borrow a median of $24,485 to complete this degree. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for University Of Wisconsin Parkside

14

Washtenaw Community College placed #14 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. About 25 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Typical student debt for the program is $17,616. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at Washtenaw Community College

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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