[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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 earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in Illinois. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,272 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $43,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
Elgin Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $7,727. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at College Of Dupage, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,077. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,798. That is a strong return on a $11,077 median debt.
Mchenry County College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $24,458 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University came in at #8 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,735. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $51,753. Set against $25,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Parkland College came in at #9 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. Set against $10,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College placed #10 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rend Lake College placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,500, with out-of-state students paying around $7,800. Students borrow a median of $8,688 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $42,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Illinois University placed #12 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $39,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Governors State University landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,990. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Western Illinois University came in at #15 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,893 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $31,233 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,893 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $22,183 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,855. Set against $22,183 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Northern Illinois University came in at #17 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Students borrow a median of $27,642 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $34,061. That is a strong return on a $27,642 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #18 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $24,792 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,819. Set against $24,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #19 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,319 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,845. That is a strong return on a $20,319 median debt. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville placed #20 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,128. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $27,879 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Illinois State University earned the #21 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $21,735. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $35,033. Set against $21,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Aurora University placed #22 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,507. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $51,483. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Roosevelt University placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,897. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $26,249. Set against $25,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
North Central College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,452 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of North Central College earn a median of $25,435 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Central College admits about 77% of applicants.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $16,290. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts value ranking:
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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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 · 38 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 38 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.
