[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 63 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
College Of The Mainland earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in Texas. Located in the city of Texas City, College Of The Mainland is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,310, compared with $4,140 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,928. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $30,227. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes El Centro College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,835 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas A And M International University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,894, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,672 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $20,021. That is a strong return on a $14,672 median debt. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
El Paso Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, while out-of-state students pay about $5,314. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $8,542. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $9,347. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,948 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $35,429. Set against $18,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,148, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,058 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,343. Set against $10,058 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District earned the #8 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,148. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $45,158. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Del Mar College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, while out-of-state students pay about $6,050. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $7,476. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,389 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $11,839 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of San Antonio College earn a median of $37,855 early in their careers. Set against $11,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,720 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $41,053 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
Northwest Vista College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Northwest Vista College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,189 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northwest Vista College earn a median of $29,349 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Collin County Community College District landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Collin County Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of McKinney. Students from in state pay about $2,014 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,064. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. Set against $6,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College came in at #15 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,365. Set against $19,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College came in at #16 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kilgore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kilgore College generally make around $44,322. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
South Plains College placed #17 among the best values for visual & performing arts. South Plains College is a large public school located in the town of Levelland. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,788. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #18 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,905. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $39,696. That is a strong return on a $16,905 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University came in at #19 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,407. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $42,328 early in their careers. Set against $26,407 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Angelina College came in at #20 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Lufkin, Angelina College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,430 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,490. Students borrow a median of $7,828 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Angelina College generally make around $50,767. Set against $7,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,326, compared with $22,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,098. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At San Antonio earn a median of $34,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,098 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Tyler Junior College landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blinn College placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,890, while out-of-state students pay about $11,370. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Womans University earned the #24 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,811. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $38,873. Set against $25,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
Lone Star College System earned the #25 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,425 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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 · 63 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 63 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.
