[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 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Flathead Valley Community College, our #1 best value for visual & performing arts in Montana. Located in the town of Kalispell, Flathead Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,912, with out-of-state students paying around $11,659. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,094 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $45,868. Set against $16,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,552, while out-of-state students pay about $33,671. Students borrow a median of $26,899 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of $22,501 early in their careers. Set against $26,899 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Montana admits about 96% of applicants.
Montana State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,450. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $33,514 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,450 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
