[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.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
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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.
For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat Brigham Young University Idaho this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,860 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $24,036 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,860 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Western Idaho came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. College Of Western Idaho is a very large public school located in the rural area of Nampa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,446, while out-of-state students pay about $7,454. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of Western Idaho generally make around $40,963.
North Idaho College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,396, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. 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 Idaho State University, which ranked #4. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Students from in state pay about $8,610 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $51,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Idaho one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,590. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $34,288. Set against $23,590 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Lewis Clark State College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Lewis Clark State College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Lewiston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,610, with out-of-state students paying around $22,028. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,781. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lewis Clark State College earn a median of $44,496 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,781 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Boise State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, with out-of-state students paying around $27,788. Students borrow a median of $28,599 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,083. Set against $28,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boise State University admits about 87% of applicants.
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
