[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 13 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.
Central Connecticut State University earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in Connecticut. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $22,641 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $34,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Capital Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Capital Community College earn a median of $22,100 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Connecticut State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $26,549 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Connecticut State University admits about 92% of applicants.
Western Connecticut State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,401, with out-of-state students paying around $16,901. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,313 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Western Connecticut State University generally make around $22,644. Set against $26,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Connecticut State University admits about 87% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Eastern Connecticut State University one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Willimantic, Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,928 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $23,534 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Eastern Connecticut State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Yale University came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Yale University earn a median of $22,015 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Connecticut came in at #7 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. Students from in state pay about $21,044 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $43,712. Students borrow a median of $24,722 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $27,575. That is a strong return on a $24,722 median debt. University Of Connecticut admits about 52% of applicants.
Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,042. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wesleyan University admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Hartford earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $27,615 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of New Haven landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $23,136. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Connecticut College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. Students from in state pay about $67,242 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,250. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $36,564 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 37%.
Quinnipiac University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Students borrow a median of $26,554 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Quinnipiac University earn a median of $33,536 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Sacred Heart University placed #13 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $62,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
