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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts

32 Ranked Colleges
129 Degrees Awarded
$30,800 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 3,130 people earned their degree in visual and performing arts, making the major the 221st most popular in the United States.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 129 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their visual and performing arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

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The visual arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major”.

Top 32 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbus College of Art and Design. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major. Columbus College of Art and Design is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at CCAD

2
Wilson crest
Wilson College
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Out of the 32 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Wilson College landed the #2 spot on the list. Wilson is located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Wilson College

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

4
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The University of Montana
Missoula, Montana

Out of the 32 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Montana landed the #4 spot on the list. UM is a fairly large school located in Missoula, Montana that handed out 11 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at The University of Montana

5
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Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Out of the 32 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Purchase College landed the #5 spot on the list. Purchase, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

Full Purchase College Visual & Performing Arts Report

6
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The College at Brockport
Brockport, New York

The College at Brockport ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. The College at Brockport is a medium-sized public school situated in Brockport, New York. It awarded 6 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full The College at Brockport Visual & Performing Arts Report

7

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 13 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at California State University - Los Angeles

8
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Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Regent University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Regent is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Regent

9
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College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

College of Charleston came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. College of Charleston is a fairly large public school situated in Charleston, South Carolina. It awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at C of C

10
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Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Norfolk State is a medium-sized school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 1 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Norfolk State

11

University of California - San Diego did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking, coming in at #11. Located in La Jolla, California, this large public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full UCSD Visual & Performing Arts Report

12
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Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

With a ranking of #12, Yale University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Yale University is located in New Haven, Connecticut and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Yale University

13

With a ranking of #13, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at IUPUI

14
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West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at WVU

15

Iowa State University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa State

16
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. George Mason University is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full George Mason University Visual & Performing Arts Report

17
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Brooklyn College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

18

The University of Texas at Dallas ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 3 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Dallas Visual & Performing Arts Report

19
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 3 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Harvard University Visual & Performing Arts Report

20

Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Texas A&M College Station

21

University of California - Riverside ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. UCR is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 1 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

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

22
University at Buffalo crest
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

With a ranking of #22, University at Buffalo did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University at Buffalo

23
CU crest
Cumberland University
Lebanon, Tennessee

Cumberland University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Cumberland University is a small school located in Lebanon, Tennessee that handed out 0 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full CU Visual & Performing Arts Report

23
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Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, New Jersey

Ramapo College of New Jersey ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Located in Mahwah, New Jersey, this medium-sized public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ramapo College Visual & Performing Arts Report

23
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Mississippi State is a public institution located in Mississippi State, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 42 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Mississippi State University

23
Western Oregon State College crest
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, Oregon

Western Oregon University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This small school is located in Monmouth, Oregon, and it awarded 1 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Western Oregon University

23
Bob Jones University crest
Bob Jones University
Greenville, South Carolina

Bob Jones University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Greenville, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Bob Jones University

23

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 0 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

23

With a ranking of #23, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

23
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The City College of New York
New York, New York

The City College of New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking, coming in at #23. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The City College of New York Visual & Performing Arts Report

23

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. RPI is located in Troy, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full RPI Visual & Performing Arts Report

23

William Paterson University of New Jersey landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Located in Wayne, New Jersey, this medium-sized public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at William Paterson University

Notes and References

References

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