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2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

51 Ranked Colleges
7,381 Degrees Awarded
$15,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 149,215 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 7,381 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,498 and $25,515 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 51 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The visual & performing arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Metropolitan Community College is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 110 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Metropolitan Community College is $4,315 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Metropolitan Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

2
Century College crest
Century College
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Century College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region. Century College is located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $10,397 for plains states region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Century College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Century College

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Johnson County Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region. Johnson County Community College is located in Overland Park, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 91 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for JCCC is $13,371 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at JCCC

4

Out of the 51 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. North Dakota State University is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 67 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,998 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend North Dakota State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 283 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State University is $16,002 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa State

6
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Kirksville, Missouri, and it awarded 66 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region visual & performing arts students list, Truman State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Truman State is $12,301 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Truman State

7
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 77 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State University is $18,578 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at South Dakota State University

8
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. USD is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 54 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Dakota is $19,389 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of South Dakota Visual & Performing Arts Report

9

University of Northern Iowa came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 127 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,438 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Northern Iowa

10
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, Nebraska

Bellevue University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bellevue University is a fairly large school located in Bellevue, Nebraska that handed out 54 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Bellevue University is $17,288 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Bellevue University Visual & Performing Arts Report

11
Bemidji State University crest
Bemidji State University
Bemidji, Minnesota

Bemidji State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Bemidji, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,033 for plains states region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Bemidji State University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Bemidji State University

12

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

UNK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $17,099 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UNK

13
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #13, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 86 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region visual & performing arts students list, Lindenwood University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,366 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Lindenwood University

14
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $17,634 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

15

Des Moines Area Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Ankeny, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for DMACC is $9,557 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Des Moines Area Community College

16
Saint Louis Community College crest
Saint Louis Community College
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #16, Saint Louis Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 53 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Saint Louis Community College is $7,056 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full Saint Louis Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Minneapolis Community and Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minneapolis Community and Technical College is a medium-sized school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 143 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $12,908 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

18

With a ranking of #18, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this large public school awarded 234 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,718 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Missouri State.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Visual & Performing Arts Report

19

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Mankato, Minnesota, this fairly large public school awarded 99 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $17,159 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Minnesota State Mankato

20

University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 97 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at UMN Duluth

21

Fort Hays State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Hays, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for FHSU is $13,189 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Fort Hays State University

22

With a ranking of #22, Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 66 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Minnesota State University - Moorhead is $17,680 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Minnesota State University - Moorhead

23

Wichita State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. WSU is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 170 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $14,859 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Wichita State University

24

With a ranking of #24, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 118 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,914 for Plains States Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend UNOMAHA.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of Nebraska at Omaha

25
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

Stephens College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Plains States Region list. Stephens College is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Stephens is $22,460 for plains states region visual & performing arts students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Stephens

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