General Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 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.
Lipscomb University tops our 2026 ranking of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lipscomb University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lipscomb University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $48,949 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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The University Of Tennessee Martin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #2. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $25,660 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,625 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general visual & performing arts program will find one at Volunteer State Community College, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Gallatin. About 19 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Volunteer State Community College generally make around $40,137. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans.
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Chattanooga State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. About 21 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,079.
More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Chattanooga State Community College
Pellissippi State Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 27 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $43,816 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,951.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 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.
