[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 83 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in the New England Region. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bristol Community College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,832, compared with $10,776 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,482. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bristol Community College generally make around $37,897. That is a strong return on a $9,482 median debt.
Springfield Technical 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 Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,904, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,707. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $42,457. That is a strong return on a $9,707 median debt.
Greenfield Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Greenfield Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,810, while out-of-state students pay about $11,930. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,269 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Greenfield Community College generally make around $58,356. Set against $12,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Community College Of Rhode Island one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public school located in the city of Warwick. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $14,834. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $18,544 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
Massachusetts Bay Community College earned the #6 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,856 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,800. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,008. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $44,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island College earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Rhode Island College is a large public school located in the suburb of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,300, with out-of-state students paying around $27,299. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,038 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rhode Island College generally make around $28,719. That is a strong return on a $19,038 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Bunker Hill Community College landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,168, compared with $11,112 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $51,782. Set against $11,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mount Wachusett Community College came in at #9 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Mount Wachusett Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gardner. Students from in state pay about $6,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,080 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,497 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mount Wachusett Community College generally make around $43,883. That is a strong return on a $11,497 median debt.
Colby College placed #10 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,016. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colby College admits about 7% of applicants.
Bridgewater State University came in at #11 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bridgewater State University generally make around $29,595. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Capital Community College placed #12 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,338, compared with $15,596 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Capital Community College generally make around $22,100. Set against $12,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern Maine earned the #13 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Students borrow a median of $18,703 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $18,856 early in their careers. Set against $18,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Fitchburg State University placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,346, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $29,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Williams College placed #15 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,850 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Williams College admits about 8% of applicants.
Holyoke Community College earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,988, with out-of-state students paying around $10,932. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,763 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,423. That is a strong return on a $9,763 median debt.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,283 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,317. Set against $26,283 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Salem State University placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,531. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $26,180. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Central Connecticut State University landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Central Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the suburb of New Britain. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,641. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Central Connecticut State University earn a median of $34,930 early in their careers. Set against $22,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Harvard University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $115,516. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Framingham State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Framingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,920, while out-of-state students pay about $18,000. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $28,843 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Framingham State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Westfield State University landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,259. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Community College Of Vermont landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Montpelier, Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,920, compared with $13,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,125. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Community College Of Vermont generally make around $34,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #24 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $36,980. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Keene State College came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,446 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 83 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 83 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.
