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2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

19 Ranked Colleges
145 Degrees Awarded
$28,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Visual & Performing Arts is the 217th most popular major in the country with 3,337 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 145 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree visual arts students with aid.

Top 19 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (With Aid)

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. California State University - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 19 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal State LA, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State LA are $17,723, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Cal State LA Visual & Performing Arts Report

#2

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#14 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brooklyn College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Brooklyn College is a fairly large school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 5 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Brooklyn College also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Brooklyn College are $20,952.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Riverside. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UCR did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCR are $28,686.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - Riverside

#4

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 19 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #4 spot on the list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harvard, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Harvard

#5

The University of Montana

Missoula, Montana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Montana. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. UM is a public institution located in Missoula, Montana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students with aid list, UM has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UM are $23,242, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The University of Montana

#2 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Texas A&M College Station

#12 in overall quality

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. IUPUI is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IUPUI, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at IUPUI

#3 in overall quality

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. UCSD is a large public school situated in La Jolla, California. It awarded 9 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at UCSD

#5 in overall quality

Iowa State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa State

#10

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#18 in overall quality

West Virginia University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

WVU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at West Virginia University are $26,154.

Full West Virginia University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#11

The College at Brockport

Brockport, New York
#17 in overall quality

The College at Brockport did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Brockport, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

SUNY Brockport did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The College at Brockport are $24,080, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The College at Brockport

#12

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM also took the #8 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at UWM

#13

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, George Mason University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. George Mason University is located in Fairfax, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

GMU also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at GMU are $37,410, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at GMU

#14

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University at Buffalo did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

University at Buffalo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University at Buffalo are $26,028.

Full University at Buffalo Visual & Performing Arts Report

#15

Purchase College

Purchase, New York
#10 in overall quality

Purchase College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Purchase, New York, this small public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purchase College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purchase College are $24,983, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Purchase College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#16

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia
#19 in overall quality

Regent University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree visual arts students with aid list, Regent has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Regent are $17,052.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Regent University

#17

College of Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina
#15 in overall quality

College of Charleston ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2019-2020.

C of C also took the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at College of Charleston are $36,592, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at College of Charleston

#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Columbus College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

CCAD also took the #11 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CCAD are $37,370, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at CCAD

#9 in overall quality

School of the Art Institute of Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual Arts Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2019-2020.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are $43,912, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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