by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 149,215 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. 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 New York, there were 17,070 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,125 and $22,397 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York” ranking, we looked at 142 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in visual and performing arts.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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 “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for new york visual & performing arts students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 143 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
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 New York list. Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY is a small private for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 69 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%.
Full Sotheby’s Institute of Art - NY Visual & Performing Arts Report
Out of the 142 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York that were part of this year’s ranking, The Juilliard School landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 251 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Manhattan School of Music. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York. Manhattan School of Music is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 272 ’s visual and performing arts 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Manhattan School of Music
Out of the 142 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York that were part of this year’s ranking, American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York landed the #5 spot on the list. American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 101 ’s visual and performing arts 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. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York Visual & Performing Arts Report
New York Academy of Art landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. New York, 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 55 students in 2020-2021.
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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 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 New York Academy of Art
With a ranking of #7, New York School of Interior Design did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. This small school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 157 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Pratt Institute - Main ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. Pratt Institute is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 879 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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 4.5% 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 Pratt Institute - Main
Marymount Manhattan College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. Marymount Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 225 ’s 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.
School of Visual Arts landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. Located in New York, New York, this small private for-profit school awarded 519 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
American Musical and Dramatic Academy landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 481 ’s visual and performing arts 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 American Musical and Dramatic Academy
With a ranking of #12, Purchase College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. This small school is located in Purchase, New York, and it awarded 444 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Purchase College
Five Towns College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Dix Hills, New York, this small private for-profit school awarded 60 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students 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.
The New School ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. The New School is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 1,206 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #15, Fashion Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. Located in New York, New York, this medium-sized public school handed out 1,590 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Fashion Institute of Technology Visual & Performing Arts Report
Bard College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. Located in Annandale-On-Hudson, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 193 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking, coming in at #17. 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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.
Villa Maria College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. Buffalo, 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 24 students in 2020-2021.
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.
Ithaca College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 275 students in 2020-2021.
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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
SUNY Fredonia ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. SUNY Fredonia is located in Fredonia, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 181 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Cazenovia College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. Cazenovia College is located in Cazenovia, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Cazenovia College
With a ranking of #22, Alfred University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. Alfred is a private not-for-profit institution located in Alfred, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 78 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Wagner College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking. Wagner is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Staten Island, New York. It awarded 91 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
With a ranking of #24, SUNY Potsdam did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York list. Located in Potsdam, New York, this small public school awarded 99 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at SUNY Potsdam
Skidmore College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in New York ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 73 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Skidmore College
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
