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2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

51 Ranked Colleges
7,381 Degrees Awarded
$14,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 149,215 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. 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 Plains States region, there were 7,381 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,498 and $25,515 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 51 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.

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

1

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Metropolitan Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. MCC is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 110 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,315 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Metropolitan Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school awarded 283 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Iowa State also took the #2 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,002 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Iowa State.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 89%.

Full Iowa State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

3
UMSL crest
University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - St Louis. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 49 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for UMSL is $12,232 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMSL Visual & Performing Arts Report

4
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 391 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Iowa also took the #3 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $19,401 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Iowa.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, 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.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Iowa

5
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 66 students in 2020-2021.

Truman State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State University is $12,301 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

6

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 394 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Twin Cities also took the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,878 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 UMN Twin Cities

7
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Century College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Century College is $10,397 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Century College

8
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 127 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid list, UNI has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $16,438 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Northern Iowa

9
Saint Louis Community College crest
Saint Louis Community College
Saint Louis, Missouri

Saint Louis Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Louis Community College is a fairly large school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 53 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $7,056 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Saint Louis Community College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Saint Louis Community College

10

Des Moines Area Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. DMACC is located in Ankeny, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend DMACC is $9,557 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at DMACC

11

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend UNOMAHA is $13,914 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Nebraska at Omaha

12
JCCC crest
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kansas

Johnson County Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 91 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,371 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend JCCC.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at JCCC

13

University of Missouri - Kansas City landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 202 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid list, UMKC has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,702 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend UMKC.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMKC Visual & Performing Arts Report

14

North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. North Dakota State University is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 67 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

North Dakota State University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,998 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

15
WSU crest
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 170 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $14,859 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Full Wichita State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

16

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 99 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Minnesota State Mankato, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,159 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid per year to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato.

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%.

Full Minnesota State Mankato Visual & Performing Arts Report

17

University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $16,559 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of Missouri - Columbia

18

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid list, UNK has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,099 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Nebraska at Kearney

19

University of Nebraska - Lincoln ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is a public institution located in Lincoln, Nebraska. The school has a large population, and it awarded 189 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNL also took the #11 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln is $17,013 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

20
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Bellevue, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $17,288 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Bellevue University

21

Fort Hays State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. FHSU is a fairly large school located in Hays, Kansas that handed out 31 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Fort Hays State University is $13,189 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

Full Fort Hays State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 143 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,908 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

23

Missouri Southern State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Missouri Southern is located in Joplin, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,526 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid per year to attend Missouri Southern.

Full Missouri Southern State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

24
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Winona State is a medium-sized school located in Winona, Minnesota that handed out 29 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid list, Winona State has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $17,634 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Winona State University

25
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Saint Cloud State University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 49 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $14,581 for plains states region visual & performing arts students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Cloud State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

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