[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 93 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.
For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Set in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,526 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Area earn a median of $30,446 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,218. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
St Charles Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $12,606 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $47,228. Set against $12,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Kirkwood Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,519 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $32,116. Set against $10,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Community College Area earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Students from in state pay about $3,444 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,032. Students borrow a median of $14,935 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $44,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Community College placed #6 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $40,568 early in their careers. Set against $11,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Louis Community College earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $6,990. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,424 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,929. Set against $11,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,630, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,281. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bismarck State College earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $7,331. Students borrow a median of $13,340 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bismarck State College generally make around $61,364. Set against $13,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #10 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,886. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $35,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #11 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Students borrow a median of $17,887 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $52,059. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,237. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $35,358. Set against $11,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Jefferson College earn a median of $47,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Century College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,214. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Century College generally make around $41,814. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #15 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,625. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $25,265 early in their careers. Set against $13,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Central Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,496, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,135. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $39,624. Set against $16,135 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fort Hays State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,937 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $31,909 early in their careers. Set against $22,937 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
North Hennepin Community College earned the #19 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,061. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,241 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $52,492 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Valley City State University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,580, with out-of-state students paying around $13,544. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,074 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Valley City State University earn a median of $48,241 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Missouri Southern State University landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Joplin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,241 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #22 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. In-state tuition and fees average $6,236. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $31,830 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Truman State University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Truman State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Kirksville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,838, compared with $18,566 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $15,998. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Dakota County Technical College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,679. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. Set against $13,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #25 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,197 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $42,972. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
These schools also delivered strong value for visual & performing arts this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 93 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 93 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.
