General Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general visual & performing arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general visual & performing arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general visual & performing arts education in the Southwest Region.
Rice University tops our 2027 ranking of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Rice University graduates 95% of students within six years. Rice University awarded about 13 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Rice University earn around $75,299 in the first couple years of their career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 17 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $22,420 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 76 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $29,707 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Austin Community College District one of the top schools for general visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. Austin Community College District awarded about 110 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $29,669 in their early career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
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Arizona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 19 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Arizona State University earn around $22,817 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Dallas placed #6 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 441 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $28,494 in their early career. The University Of Texas At Dallas graduates carry a median of $21,196 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from The University Of Texas At Dallas
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #7 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $25,286. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
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Texas Tech University landed the #8 spot for general visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lubbock. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $50,332 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,271.
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Arizona State University Skysong placed #9 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 14 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $22,817 early in their careers. Arizona State University Skysong graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Arizona State University Skysong
Tarleton State University earned the #10 position for general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public university. About 48% of students finish within six years. Tarleton State University awarded about 21 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $50,532. Students borrow a median of $23,222 to complete this degree.
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Grand Canyon University placed #11 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Phoenix. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. About 33 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $24,691. Grand Canyon University graduates carry a median of $26,991 in student loans.
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University Of Advancing Technology earned the #12 position for general visual & performing arts this year. University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 27% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Advancing Technology in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Advancing Technology earn a median of $27,824 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,750 to complete this degree.
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San Jacinto Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 89 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $21,173. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
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Pima Community College placed #14 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 74 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Pima Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $25,344. Students borrow a median of $9,541 to complete this degree.
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University Of Houston Downtown ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Downtown in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Houston Downtown generally make around $19,527. University Of Houston Downtown graduates carry a median of $23,925 in student loans.
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New Mexico State University Dona Ana landed the #16 spot for general visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Las Cruces. About 15 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $39,399 in their early career. New Mexico State University Dona Ana graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from New Mexico State University Dona Ana
New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #17 position for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 27 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn around $18,470 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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Rogers State University came in at #18 for general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Claremore, Rogers State University is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Rogers State University awarded about 18 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rogers State University generally make around $45,644. Rogers State University graduates carry a median of $22,936 in student loans.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 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.
