[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for visual & performing arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Pikes Peak Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools in Colorado. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,510 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,110. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,066. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Community College Of Aurora, which ranked #2. Community College Of Aurora is a large public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $20,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Red Rocks Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,459 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Red Rocks Community College earn a median of $76,340 early in their careers. Set against $14,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Community College Of Denver came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,830 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $45,202 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Aims Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Students from in state pay about $2,258 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,786. Students borrow a median of $11,199 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $45,909. That is a strong return on a $11,199 median debt.
Arapahoe Community College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Arapahoe Community College generally make around $32,100. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
University Of Colorado Denver landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,391. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,664. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $30,032. Set against $26,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Pickens Technical College came in at #8 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Pickens Technical College is a small public school located in the city of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,140, with out-of-state students paying around $9,250. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,250. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Emily Griffith Technical College placed #9 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,725. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Emily Griffith Technical College earn a median of $42,412 early in their careers. Set against $9,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pueblo Community College landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Pueblo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,049, compared with $17,649 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,106 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $42,377. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Front Range Community College placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Front Range Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Westminster. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,263. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Front Range Community College earn a median of $21,397 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,124, while out-of-state students pay about $30,684. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $30,227. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $28,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Metropolitan State College Of Denver admits about 99% of applicants.
Mesa State College landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mesa State College generally make around $25,175. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, with out-of-state students paying around $25,039. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Western State College Of Colorado earned the #15 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318, compared with $24,434 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,455 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,712. That is a strong return on a $23,455 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Lewis College earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,958 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,500. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fort Lewis College generally make around $22,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #17 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,469. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,929. That is a strong return on a $24,469 median debt. University Of Northern Colorado admits about 86% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #18 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Collins. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,868 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $37,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,868 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,902 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design placed #20 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $20,190 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $46,544 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,829. Set against $46,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado College earned the #21 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colorado College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 18% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Denver generally make around $26,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
View All Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
