[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 16 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.
Leading the list is University Of North Alabama, our #1 best value for visual & performing arts in Alabama. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,120, compared with $22,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,075. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Alabama generally make around $34,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Alabama admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at John C Calhoun State Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Tanner, John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,120, while out-of-state students pay about $8,990. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,839. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $42,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $11,769 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus generally make around $40,090. Set against $11,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville earned it the #4 place for visual & performing arts. Set in the rural area of Hanceville, George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $9,090. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,146. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville earn a median of $40,017 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Auburn University At Montgomery is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,700 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $18,223. Set against $30,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
James H Faulkner State Community College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. James H Faulkner State Community College is a large public school located in the town of Bay Minette. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $8,910. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,326 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $52,231. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jacksonville State University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,334. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,878. That is a strong return on a $26,439 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Troy University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Troy University is a large public school located in the town of Troy. In-state tuition and fees average $10,176, with out-of-state students paying around $20,352. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,917. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Montevallo placed #9 among the best values for visual & performing arts. University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Montevallo. Students from in state pay about $13,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,968. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,150. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. University Of Montevallo admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #10 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, with out-of-state students paying around $22,562. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,104. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $29,444. Set against $25,104 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of South Alabama landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,371. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $24,071. That is a strong return on a $25,371 median debt. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of Alabama At Huntsville came in at #12 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,132, compared with $26,408 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn a median of $35,123 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Alabama State University placed #13 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,248, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $17,997 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Alabama State University admits about 98% of applicants.
The University Of Alabama landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,172 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of Alabama generally make around $31,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Auburn University earned the #15 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,435. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $44,668. That is a strong return on a $24,435 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Samford University placed #16 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,150. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $41,323. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Samford University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
