General Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Harvard University the best school in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 57 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $115,516 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at Harvard University
Northeastern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 15 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $27,246 early in their careers. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $25,611 in student loans.
See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Northeastern University
Lesley University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Lesley University awarded about 29 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lesley University generally make around $20,600. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at Lesley University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth awarded about 29 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn around $25,753 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
More General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
- 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.
