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2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

102 Ranked Colleges
19,622 Degrees Awarded
$13,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

With 149,215 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 19,622 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,942 and $26,129 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 102 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent visual and performing arts programs, but they also 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Madison Area Technical College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 94 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Madison College, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,053 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Madison College.

Full Madison College Visual & Performing Arts Report

2

Out of the 102 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 540 students in 2020-2021.

U-M did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend U-M.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at U-M

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 651 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,619 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Indiana University - Bloomington

4
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Out of the 102 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 158 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,377 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Purdue.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, 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 93%.

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Visual & Performing Arts Report

5

Out of the 102 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 457 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Madison also took the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. 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%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UW - Madison

6

Sinclair Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Dayton, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 204 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $4,959 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Sinclair Community College

7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 353 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Visual & Performing Arts Report

8
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 380 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $19,058 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

9

Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cuyahoga Community College District is a public institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Cuyahoga Community College District is $4,909 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Cuyahoga Community College District

10

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 168 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

11
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 210 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $7,669 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Ivy Tech Community College

12
Gateway Technical College crest
Gateway Technical College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gateway Technical College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Gateway Technical College is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 54 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $8,487 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Gateway Technical College.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Gateway Technical College

13

With a ranking of #13, Milwaukee Area Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Milwaukee Area Technical College is $8,721 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at MATC

14

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 190 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,214 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend University of Illinois at Chicago.

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%.

Full UIC Visual & Performing Arts Report

15

University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Menomonie, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 173 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

UW - Stout not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $15,589 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

16
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

With a ranking of #16, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 232 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State is $14,765 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

17
Macomb Community College crest
Macomb Community College
Warren, Michigan

Macomb Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Warren, Michigan, and it awarded 74 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,982 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Macomb Community College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Macomb Community College

18
Western Technical College crest
Western Technical College
La Crosse, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #18, Western Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Western Technical College is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,279 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Western Technical College.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Western Technical College

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is a public institution located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 140 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

20

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a public institution located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $14,654 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Visual & Performing Arts Report

21

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 369 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $16,845 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Ohio State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Ohio State Visual & Performing Arts Report

22
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $13,098 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at EIU

23
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

Ferris State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ferris is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 165 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,213 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Ferris.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Ferris

24
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 378 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,279 for great lakes region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Northwestern University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northwestern University

25

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. UC is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 749 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $22,415 for Great Lakes Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UC Visual & Performing Arts Report

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