[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Wichita State University the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,551. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $20,013. Set against $24,551 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Butler Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,541 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,271. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,670 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Missouri State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,903 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,750. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $26,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Missouri State University Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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.
