[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 154 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis And Clark Community College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,602. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #3 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,795. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $22,517 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,795 median debt.
Elgin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $7,727. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Northwest came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Gary, Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,434. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana University Northwest generally make around $48,925. That is a strong return on a $26,434 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Lorain County Community College placed #7 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,611. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Students borrow a median of $11,272 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $43,834. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
College Of Dupage placed #9 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,077 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $24,490 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Muskegon Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,928. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Students borrow a median of $15,677 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Set against $15,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,730 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $47,975. That is a strong return on a $17,730 median debt.
Mchenry County College placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $7,440. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,177. That is a strong return on a $7,440 median debt.
Columbus State Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Lansing Community College earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #17 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,075 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $19,911. That is a strong return on a $19,075 median debt.
Indiana University Southeast placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Students borrow a median of $18,942 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Southeast admits about 84% of applicants.
Oakland Community College earned the #19 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,120, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #20 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,710. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $26,602. Set against $12,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,349. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Ferris State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,918. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $30,766. Set against $26,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Delta College placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Delta College is a large public school located in the rural area of University Center. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,075. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $37,342. Set against $14,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #24 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $24,458 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $27,291 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,458 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee Area Technical College placed #25 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,795. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 154 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 154 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
