[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Louisiana State University Shreveport the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Louisiana. Louisiana State University Shreveport is a large public school located in the city of Shreveport. Students from in state pay about $7,327 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,907 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Louisiana State University Shreveport generally make around $45,300. That is a strong return on a $28,907 median debt. Louisiana State University Shreveport admits about 50% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Sowela Technical Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Lake Charles, Sowela Technical Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,305. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $7,391. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sowela Technical Community College earn a median of $45,827 early in their careers. Set against $7,391 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Baton Rouge Community College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,321 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,624. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,394. Set against $17,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Delgado Community College earned it the #4 place for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of New Orleans, Delgado Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,279. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Delgado Community College earn a median of $30,248 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Louisiana Tech University, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $21,513. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,146. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Bossier Parish Community College came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,268. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,593. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bossier Parish Community College generally make around $43,661. Set against $20,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of New Orleans landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,172 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,987 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $21,504. Set against $21,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Orleans admits about 74% of applicants.
Nicholls State University came in at #8 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Thibodaux, Nicholls State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,149, with out-of-state students paying around $9,242. Students borrow a median of $20,966 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,877. That is a strong return on a $20,966 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Mcneese State University earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Mcneese State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Lake Charles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,489, with out-of-state students paying around $9,989. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,385. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mcneese State University generally make around $33,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mcneese State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Southeastern Louisiana University landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Hammond, Southeastern Louisiana University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,373, compared with $20,851 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $28,348 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southeastern Louisiana University generally make around $30,528. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Louisiana Monroe ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, with out-of-state students paying around $21,290. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,465. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Louisiana Monroe earn a median of $47,162 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Louisiana Lafayette earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Lafayette, University Of Louisiana Lafayette is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,418, with out-of-state students paying around $24,146. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,541. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Louisiana Lafayette earn a median of $17,906 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Northwestern State University Of Louisiana is a large public school located in the town of Natchitoches. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,864, compared with $19,652 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,698. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northwestern State University Of Louisiana generally make around $22,357. Set against $22,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Students borrow a median of $20,479 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Grambling State University earned the #15 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Grambling. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,683, compared with $16,706 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $43,500 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Grambling State University generally make around $34,580. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Dillard University earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Dillard University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. In-state tuition and fees average $22,734. Students borrow a median of $33,177 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $37,305. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dillard University admits about 42% of applicants.
Loyola University New Orleans landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,440. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,907 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Loyola University New Orleans earn a median of $20,257 early in their careers. Set against $26,907 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University New Orleans admits about 93% of applicants.
Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #18 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,678. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $53,507 early in their careers. Set against $22,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 14%.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
