[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 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.
Our analysis ranked Big Sandy Community And Technical College the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Kentucky. Located in the town of Prestonsburg, Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,588 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Somerset Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $35,340 early in their careers. Set against $13,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Northern Kentucky University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, compared with $21,912 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,588 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median of $28,790 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,588 median debt. Northern Kentucky University admits about 68% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Jefferson Community And Technical College, which ranked #4. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,917. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $44,346. That is a strong return on a $13,917 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Bluegrass Community And Technical College, which ranked #5. Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Lexington. In-state tuition and fees average $4,808, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,366. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bluegrass Community And Technical College generally make around $44,431. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Murray State University came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,952 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $28,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Western Kentucky University earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,579. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $29,331 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,579 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University came in at #8 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,980. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Morehead State University generally make around $24,882. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Morehead State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $28,481. Set against $22,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Georgetown College came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Georgetown, Georgetown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,840. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,938. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,752. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgetown College admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Louisville ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,315 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $23,584. Set against $22,315 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
Kentucky Wesleyan College came in at #12 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. Students from in state pay about $34,673 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,333 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,568. That is a strong return on a $25,333 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Kentucky ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, while out-of-state students pay about $34,140. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,539. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $32,090 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,539 median debt. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
Centre College earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Danville, Centre College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,820. Students borrow a median of $26,560 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Bellarmine University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,770. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $46,024. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
