by our College Data Analytics Team
[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for visual & performing arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Hennepin Technical College tops our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools in Minnesota. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $52,059. Set against $17,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Century College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Century College earn a median of $41,814 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
North Hennepin Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,061. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from North Hennepin Community College generally make around $52,492. Set against $21,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,197. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Dakota County Technical College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. 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. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $50,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. 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. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $31,830. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Normandale Community College earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,329. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,162 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. Set against $20,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minneapolis Community And Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Minneapolis Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $6,161 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $17,439. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Minneapolis Community And Technical College earn a median of $39,743 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $31,679. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #10 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,837 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,637. Set against $21,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Bemidji State University earned the #11 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,237. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $40,231. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Winona State University placed #12 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,576, compared with $17,308 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $53,109. That is a strong return on a $24,551 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Anoka Ramsey Community College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Coon Rapids, Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,682 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,593. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Anoka Ramsey Community College earn a median of $44,293 early in their careers. Set against $22,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit school located in the city of St. Cloud. Students from in state pay about $12,199 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,080 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,364. Set against $32,080 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State University Moorhead ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,692. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $32,065. That is a strong return on a $26,692 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Concordia University Saint Paul earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $25,600. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Concordia University Saint Paul generally make around $34,384. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #17 among the best values for visual & performing arts. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Students from in state pay about $14,608 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,134. Students borrow a median of $25,111 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,224. Set against $25,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Minnesota Duluth admits about 89% of applicants.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,131 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,213. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #19 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Students from in state pay about $56,076 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,197. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $28,601. That is a strong return on a $26,197 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Augsburg College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,452. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,319 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of $59,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,319 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
St Olaf College came in at #21 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,760. Students borrow a median of $23,540 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of St Olaf College earn a median of $25,595 early in their careers. Set against $23,540 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Carleton College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,892. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $45,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carleton College admits about 20% of applicants.
Concordia College At Moorhead placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Concordia College At Moorhead is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,170. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Concordia College At Moorhead earn a median of $29,986 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
College Of Saint Benedict came in at #24 for value in visual & performing arts this year. College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. In-state tuition and fees average $55,756. Students borrow a median of $26,619 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $47,105. That is a strong return on a $26,619 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,923. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts value ranking:
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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.