[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 368 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
Our analysis ranked Moorpark College the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in the United States. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Middlesex Community College Bedford one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,098 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,170. Students borrow a median of $12,755 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,427. That is a strong return on a $12,755 median debt.
Skyline College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Cuny New York City College Of Technology, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,332, compared with $15,282 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $8,715. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cuny New York City College Of Technology generally make around $20,358. That is a strong return on a $8,715 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
A rank of #5 makes Central Piedmont Community College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $30,979. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College earned the #6 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,835. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. Set against $11,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,995. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,118. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Santiago Canyon College landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College came in at #9 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
West Valley College landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga, West Valley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $0, with out-of-state students paying around $9,320. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,378. That is a strong return on a $14,308 median debt.
Metropolitan Community College Area landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. In-state tuition and fees average $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,526 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,550. That is a strong return on a $12,526 median debt.
Oklahoma City Community College came in at #14 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Students borrow a median of $13,209 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Oklahoma City Community College earn a median of $28,219 early in their careers. Set against $13,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Irvine Valley College came in at #15 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $11,860. Students borrow a median of $6,672 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,156 ten years after entry. Set against $6,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Middlesex County College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, with out-of-state students paying around $7,356. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,514. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Middlesex County College generally make around $37,975. That is a strong return on a $9,514 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $29,019. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
College Of The Canyons ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Mainland earned the #20 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Texas City. In-state tuition and fees average $2,310, with out-of-state students paying around $4,140. Students borrow a median of $10,928 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,788. That is a strong return on a $10,928 median debt.
Ventura College landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Suffolk County Community College earned the #22 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $9,132 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $24,823 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,132 median debt.
Cerritos College placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,306. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cerritos College earn a median of $29,495 early in their careers. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Canada College earned the #24 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $106,691. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Chattahoochee Technical College generally make around $44,673. That is a strong return on a $9,616 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts value ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 368 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 368 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).
[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
