[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 43 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for visual & performing arts students.
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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.
University Of Florida Online tops our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools in Florida. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,876 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,983. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,629. Set against $17,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Indian River State College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,201. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Indian River State College earn a median of $44,082 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Students borrow a median of $17,088 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $27,997 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Hillsborough Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,142. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. Set against $16,142 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Petersburg College earned the #6 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of St. Petersburg, St Petersburg College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,385. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Set against $24,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Miami Dade College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Students from in state pay about $2,838 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,661. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $27,702. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,453. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $26,692. That is a strong return on a $18,453 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Daytona State College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students from in state pay about $3,106 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $43,320. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Palm Beach State College landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,050, while out-of-state students pay about $10,910. Students borrow a median of $12,518 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,516. That is a strong return on a $12,518 median debt.
Saint Johns River State College earned the #11 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Palatka, Saint Johns River State College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,591, with out-of-state students paying around $9,334. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,293 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $47,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seminole State College Of Florida earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Students borrow a median of $19,613 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $35,284. Set against $19,613 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida International University landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,120 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,941. That is a strong return on a $16,120 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. The University Of West Florida is a large public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $23,845. Set against $16,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #15 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $22,612 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $29,162. That is a strong return on a $22,612 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
University Of Central Florida landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,288 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $26,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Florida came in at #17 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,702 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $27,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Florida State University placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Students borrow a median of $22,194 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,831. That is a strong return on a $22,194 median debt. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
Valencia College placed #19 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Orlando, Valencia College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $9,576. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,812 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $22,230. That is a strong return on a $10,812 median debt.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,980 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $22,967. That is a strong return on a $22,980 median debt. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Broward College placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Broward College is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,830, while out-of-state students pay about $8,952. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $13,110 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Broward College earn a median of $51,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,110 median debt.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,240. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $21,449 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 21% of applicants are accepted.
Stetson University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $57,410 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,554 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $15,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stetson University admits about 72% of applicants.
Bethune Cookman University earned the #24 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Bethune Cookman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students from in state pay about $14,794 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bethune Cookman University earn a median of $25,459 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus earned the #25 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Orange Technical College Mid Florida Campus earn a median of $37,013 early in their careers.
These schools also delivered strong value for visual & performing arts this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 43 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.
