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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Middle Atlantic Region

343 Ranked Colleges
28,232 Degrees Awarded
$40,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 149,215 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 Middle Atlantic region, there were 28,232 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,982 and $24,423 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking, we looked at 343 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. That schools that top this list have a program in visual and performing arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Middle Atlantic Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 69 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region. Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 58 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

1

Out of the 343 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts landed the #1 spot on the list. New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is a private for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 143 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts

4
Juilliard crest
The Juilliard School
New York, New York

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The Juilliard School. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Juilliard is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 251 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at The Juilliard School

5
PAFA crest
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. PAFA is a private not-for-profit institution located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Visual & Performing Arts Report

6
Moore College crest
Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Moore College of Art and Design landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Moore College of Art and Design is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 91 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Moore College

7
Manhattan School of Music crest
Manhattan School of Music
New York, New York

Manhattan School of Music ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 272 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Manhattan School of Music Visual & Performing Arts Report

8

Maryland Institute College of Art landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Maryland Institute College of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Baltimore, Maryland. It awarded 542 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art

9

With a ranking of #9, American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 101 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Full American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York Visual & Performing Arts Report

10
New York Academy of Art crest
New York Academy of Art
New York, New York

New York Academy of Art landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. New York Academy of Art is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 55 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 New York Academy of Art

11
UArts crest
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of the Arts did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #11. UArts is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 356 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 The University of the Arts

12

With a ranking of #12, Delaware College of Art and Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small school is located in Wilmington, Delaware, and it awarded 27 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Delaware College of Art and Design

13
Hussian crest
Hussian College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hussian College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #13. Hussian College is a small school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that handed out 19 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Hussian

14
Curtis Institute of Music crest
Curtis Institute of Music
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Curtis Institute of Music ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Curtis Institute of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 19 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Curtis Institute of Music

15

New York School of Interior Design landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. New York School of Interior Design is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 157 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 New York School of Interior Design

16
Pratt Institute crest
Pratt Institute - Main
Brooklyn, New York

With a ranking of #16, Pratt Institute - Main did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Pratt Institute is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 879 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Pratt Institute

17
MMC crest
Marymount Manhattan College
New York, New York

Marymount Manhattan College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Marymount Manhattan College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 225 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at MMC

18
SVA crest
School of Visual Arts
New York, New York

School of Visual Arts came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. School of Visual Arts is a small private for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 519 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.

Full SVA Visual & Performing Arts Report

19

American Musical and Dramatic Academy came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 481 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full American Musical and Dramatic Academy Visual & Performing Arts Report

20
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Purchase College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Purchase, New York, and it awarded 444 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Purchase College Visual & Performing Arts Report

21
Five Towns College crest
Five Towns College
Dix Hills, New York

Five Towns College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small school is located in Dix Hills, New York, and it awarded 60 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Five Towns College

22
New School University crest
The New School
New York, New York

The New School did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #22. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 1,206 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at New School University

23

Fashion Institute of Technology ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 1,590 students in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at FIT SUNY

24
Bard crest
Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, New York

Bard College ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Annandale-On-Hudson, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 193 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Bard

25

Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #25. Cooper Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 55 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Cooper Union

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Villa crest
Villa Maria College
Buffalo, New York
27
Muhlenberg crest
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania
28
Bloomfield College crest
Bloomfield College
Bloomfield, New Jersey
29
Ithaca crest
Ithaca College
Ithaca, New York
30
Point Park crest
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
31
SUNY Fredonia crest
SUNY Fredonia
Fredonia, New York
32
Cazenovia crest
Cazenovia College
Cazenovia, New York
33
Albright crest
Albright College
Reading, Pennsylvania
34
Alfred crest
Alfred University
Alfred, New York
35
Wagner crest
Wagner College
Staten Island, New York
36
SUNY Potsdam crest
SUNY Potsdam
Potsdam, New York
37
Skidmore crest
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, New York
38
SUNY Oneonta crest
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, New York
39
Kutztown University crest
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
40
Mansfield University crest
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Mansfield, Pennsylvania
41
Barnard crest
Barnard College
New York, New York
42
UVF crest
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
43
44
Vassar crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
45
Drew crest
Drew University
Madison, New Jersey
46
Rider crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
47
Messiah crest
Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
48
Edinboro crest
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro, Pennsylvania
49
Pace University crest
Pace University - New York
New York, New York
50
Salem County College crest
Salem Community College
Carneys Point, New Jersey

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Middle Atlantic Region

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 New York University New York, NY
52 Sussex County Community College Newton, NJ

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Notes and References

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