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2022 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in New York

23 Ranked Colleges
3,297 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 155,377 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,427 and had an average of $28,377 in loans still to pay off.

Across New York, there were 18,984 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,603 and $33,127 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 3,297 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,640 and $14,770 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

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 for an Associate in New York” 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York.

Top 23 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in New York

#1

Fashion Institute of Technology

New York, New York
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fashion Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York. This medium-sized school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 916 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our new york associate degree visual & performing arts students list, FIT SUNY has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Fashion Institute of Technology is $10,523 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

The low 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%. 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 FIT SUNY Visual & Performing Arts Report

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Borough of Manhattan Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York. BMCC is a large public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 151 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

BMCC also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $5,158 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Full Borough of Manhattan Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Queensborough Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York list. Queensborough Community College is located in Bayside, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 171 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at QCC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The yearly cost to attend QCC is $5,050 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Full QCC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4

Nassau Community College

Garden City, New York
#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Nassau Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York list. Nassau Community College is a public institution located in Garden City, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Nassau Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. The yearly cost to attend Nassau Community College is $4,594 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Nassau Community College

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York that were part of this year’s ranking, Suffolk County Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Suffolk County Community College is a large school located in Selden, New York that handed out 158 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Suffolk County Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. It costs about $5,533 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Suffolk County Community College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Suffolk County Community College

#6

LaGuardia Community College

Long Island City, New York
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, LaGuardia Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York list. Located in Long Island City, New York, this fairly large public school handed out 160 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

LaGuardia also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $6,766 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend LaGuardia Community College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at LaGuardia

#7

Monroe Community College

Rochester, New York
#12 in overall quality

Monroe Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking, coming in at #7. Monroe Community College is a public institution located in Rochester, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 109 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Monroe Community College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Monroe Community College is $6,830 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Full Monroe Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#8

Onondaga Community College

Syracuse, New York
#14 in overall quality

Onondaga Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. Located in Syracuse, New York, this medium-sized public school awarded 61 degrees to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at OCC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. It costs about $7,390 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Onondaga Community College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Onondaga Community College

#9

Finger Lakes Community College

Canandaigua, New York
#15 in overall quality

Finger Lakes Community College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. Finger Lakes Community College is located in Canandaigua, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Finger Lakes Community College also took the #15 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Finger Lakes Community College is $9,543 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Finger Lakes Community College

#10

Hostos Community College

Bronx, New York
#13 in overall quality

Hostos Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. Hostos Community College is a public institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 49 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Hostos also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend Hostos Community College is $5,262 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

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

#18 in overall quality

Mohawk Valley Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. Located in Utica, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 54 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

MVCC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. The estimated yearly cost for MVCC is $7,722 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Mohawk Valley Community College

#11 in overall quality

New York City College of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking, coming in at #12. Brooklyn, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

City Tech also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend City Tech is $3,667 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full City Tech Visual & Performing Arts Report

#13

Adirondack Community College

Queensbury, New York
#17 in overall quality

Adirondack Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. This small school is located in Queensbury, New York, and it awarded 41 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

SUNY Adirondack also took the #17 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. It costs about $8,558 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Adirondack Community College.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SUNY Adirondack

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York list. Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North is a small private for-profit school situated in Liverpool, New York. It awarded 6 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North also took the #19 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North is $10,069 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Bryant & Stratton College - Syracuse North

#15

Genesee Community College

Batavia, New York
#21 in overall quality

Genesee Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. This small school is located in Batavia, New York, and it awarded 19 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

GCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. It costs about $6,304 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend GCC.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Genesee Community College

#16

Villa Maria College

Buffalo, New York
#20 in overall quality

Villa Maria College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. Villa Maria College is located in Buffalo, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Villa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. The yearly cost to attend Villa Maria College is $12,243 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

With a 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 Villa

#17

Five Towns College

Dix Hills, New York
#16 in overall quality

Five Towns College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. Five Towns College is located in Dix Hills, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Five Towns College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. The estimated yearly cost for Five Towns College is $18,729 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Since the school has a 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 Five Towns College

#6 in overall quality

American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking, coming in at #18. New York, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 121 students in 2019-2020.

American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. The estimated yearly cost for American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is $47,801 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York Visual & Performing Arts Report

#19

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York
#7 in overall quality

Rochester Institute of Technology landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. RIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester, New York. It awarded 20 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

RIT also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for RIT is $33,167 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, 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 86%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology

#23 in overall quality

New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 141 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The yearly cost to attend New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is $37,168 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts

#22 in overall quality

American Musical and Dramatic Academy landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for American Musical and Dramatic Academy is $43,277 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

The low 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%. The 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.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at American Musical and Dramatic Academy

#22

Pratt Institute - Main

Brooklyn, New York
#8 in overall quality

Pratt Institute - Main did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 43 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pratt Institute, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pratt Institute - Main is $45,571 for new york associate degree visual & performing arts students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Pratt Institute - Main Visual & Performing Arts Report

#23

The New School

New York, New York
#3 in overall quality

The New School ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in New York list. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 180 students in 2019-2020.

New School University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in New York” list. The estimated yearly cost for The New School is $43,334 for New York Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

With a 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 The New School

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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