[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
What’s on this page:
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 Bismarck State College this year. Set in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $7,331. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,340. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $61,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Dakota State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,846. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
