[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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 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.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in Idaho. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. 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 $24,196 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,860 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Idaho College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,396, with out-of-state students paying around $8,736. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. Set against $14,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at University Of Idaho, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,084, compared with $28,320 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,590 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $32,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Idaho admits about 76% of applicants.
Idaho State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, while out-of-state students pay about $27,720. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $51,446. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boise State University earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,599 in student loans. 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.
Northwest Nazarene University earned the #6 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,824. Students borrow a median of $27,562 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $50,330. That is a strong return on a $27,562 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
