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 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 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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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general visual & performing arts education in North Carolina.
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Asheville, our #1 school for general visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of North Carolina At Asheville awarded about 41 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $23,023. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of North Carolina At Asheville
Students looking for a strong general visual & performing arts program will find one at Salem College, which ranked #2. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 57% of students finish within six years. Salem College awarded about 10 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Salem College earn around $43,226 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,789.
More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Salem College
Elizabeth City State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #3. Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Elizabeth City. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Elizabeth City State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $28,300 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,992 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at Elizabeth City State University
North Carolina Central University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. North Carolina Central University graduates 42% of students within six years. North Carolina Central University awarded about 11 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $42,873 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,173.
More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from North Carolina Central University
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 · 13 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.
