[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.
College Factual analyzed 23 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.
Trident Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in South Carolina. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. In-state tuition and fees average $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,116. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Spartanburg Community College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,071 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,135. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,148. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $41,598. That is a strong return on a $10,148 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Horry Georgetown Technical College earned it the #3 place for visual & performing arts. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,518, while out-of-state students pay about $10,978. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,500. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Horry Georgetown Technical College earn a median of $22,024 early in their careers. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Midlands Technical College, which ranked #4. Midlands Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of West Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $39,610. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at York Technical College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,036, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,907. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $37,626. Set against $10,907 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Technical College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,775, while out-of-state students pay about $6,923. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,652 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Piedmont Technical College generally make around $36,577. That is a strong return on a $17,652 median debt.
University Of South Carolina Upstate ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,588, while out-of-state students pay about $23,090. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Upstate generally make around $35,203. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Upstate admits about 67% of applicants.
Greenville Technical College earned the #8 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,495, while out-of-state students pay about $10,775. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,411. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Greenville Technical College earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,411 median debt.
University Of South Carolina Aiken earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of South Carolina Aiken is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Aiken. In-state tuition and fees average $10,760, while out-of-state students pay about $21,218. Students borrow a median of $23,567 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of $19,963 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,567 median debt. University Of South Carolina Aiken admits about 78% of applicants.
Francis Marion University placed #10 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of Florence, Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,170, compared with $21,544 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,577 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,456. That is a strong return on a $30,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Coastal Carolina University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,133 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $21,674. That is a strong return on a $26,133 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Carolina Beaufort landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,730, while out-of-state students pay about $21,776. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,971 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $38,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Beaufort admits about 72% of applicants.
Tri County Technical College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Pendleton, Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,448, while out-of-state students pay about $12,007. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,787. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $43,438. That is a strong return on a $15,787 median debt.
Winthrop University came in at #14 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,678 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,974 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $26,279. Set against $27,974 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Lander University placed #15 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,700, compared with $21,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,937 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $21,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Charleston ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,978 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,620 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of College Of Charleston earn a median of $23,328 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,620 median debt. College Of Charleston admits about 60% of applicants.
Bob Jones University came in at #17 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,892. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $36,424. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clemson University earned the #18 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,010 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $46,650. Set against $26,010 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Charleston Southern University landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,520 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $46,288. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of South Carolina Columbia ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,935. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $35,093 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Converse College placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Converse College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,240. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $38,940. That is a strong return on a $26,715 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Students borrow a median of $26,223 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,239. That is a strong return on a $26,223 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Furman University placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $59,770. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,830. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Furman University earn a median of $36,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,830 median debt. Furman University admits about 43% of applicants.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
