[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for visual & performing arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat Indiana University Northwest this year. Indiana University Northwest is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gary. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Set against $26,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Indiana University Southeast, which ranked #2. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,942 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Indiana University Southeast earn a median of $31,194 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,942 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Students borrow a median of $12,710 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $26,602 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,710 median debt.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,750. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $27,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,481 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $37,743. That is a strong return on a $20,481 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Vincennes University landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,506. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Set against $14,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University South Bend ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,424, with out-of-state students paying around $22,811. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,295. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana University South Bend generally make around $23,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,928 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $28,716 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,928 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Indiana State University placed #9 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,985 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Set against $26,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Students borrow a median of $24,502 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $29,059. Set against $24,502 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #11 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,758 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $28,561. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne came in at #12 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Students borrow a median of $26,920 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $27,693. Set against $26,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Students from in state pay about $36,460 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne earn a median of $32,579 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Evansville earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,172. Students borrow a median of $23,727 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Evansville generally make around $23,407. That is a strong return on a $23,727 median debt. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Indianapolis came in at #15 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,200. Students borrow a median of $26,699 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Indianapolis generally make around $52,298. Set against $26,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Depauw University earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Greencastle, Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,070 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Depauw University earn a median of $46,127 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Depauw University admits about 57% of applicants.
Taylor University earned the #17 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Taylor University generally make around $31,921. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Students borrow a median of $19,566 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,763. That is a strong return on a $19,566 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Butler University placed #19 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,560. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,236. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,911. Set against $24,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
