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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Virginia

46 Ranked Colleges
3,630 Degrees Awarded
$28,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Virginia, there were 3,630 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,234 and $25,261 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia” ranking looked at 46 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their visual and performing arts program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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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 Virginia” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia visual & performing arts students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Virginia

1
Ai Virginia Beach crest
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Art Institute of Virginia Beach. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia. The Art Institute of Virginia Beach is a small school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 28 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The Art Institute of Virginia Beach

2
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hollins University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Roanoke, Virginia, and it awarded 52 ’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. 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%.

Full Hollins Visual & Performing Arts Report

3
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Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Virginia University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia. Buena Vista, Virginia 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 25 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at SVU

4
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Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Shenandoah University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia. Shenandoah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winchester, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 126 ’s 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%. 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 more about Visual & Performing Arts at Shenandoah

5
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Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sweet Briar College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia. Sweet Briar is located in Sweet Briar, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Sweet Briar College

6
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Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

Mary Baldwin University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Staunton, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 39 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Mary Baldwin

7

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Virginia Commonwealth University is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 627 ’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%.

Full Virginia Commonwealth University Visual & Performing Arts Report

8
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Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 10 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Randolph College Visual & Performing Arts Report

9
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Marymount University
Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Arlington, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 65 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Marymount University Visual & Performing Arts Report

10
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Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia

Longwood University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Farmville, Virginia, and it awarded 58 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Longwood

11
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Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Radford, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 136 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Radford University

12
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University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Fredericksburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 University of Mary Washington

13
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James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. James Madison University is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 278 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. 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 JMU Visual & Performing Arts Report

14
Norfolk State crest
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #14, Norfolk State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. Norfolk State is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 40 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Norfolk State University Visual & Performing Arts Report

15
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Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia

Bridgewater College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 Bridgewater College

16
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Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

Christopher Newport University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Newport News, Virginia, and it awarded 53 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Christopher Newport University Visual & Performing Arts Report

17
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Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Regent University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Regent is a private not-for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Regent University

18
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Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. Virginia Wesleyan University is a small school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 14 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at VWU

19
Washington and Lee crest
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia

Washington and Lee University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Washington and Lee University is a small school located in Lexington, Virginia that handed out 26 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, 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. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Washington and Lee University

20
Emory & Henry College crest
Emory and Henry College
Emory, Virginia

Emory and Henry College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking. Emory and Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Emory, Virginia. It awarded 13 ’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 Emory & Henry College

21

With a ranking of #21, John Tyler Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. This medium-sized school is located in Chester, Virginia, and it awarded 89 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at John Tyler Community College

22
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George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school awarded 342 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at GMU

23
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Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia

With a ranking of #23, Roanoke College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. Roanoke College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Salem, Virginia. It awarded 13 ’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%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Roanoke College

24
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Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

With a ranking of #24, Randolph - Macon College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia list. Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Randolph - Macon

25

Northern Virginia Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual & Performing Arts Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #25. Annandale, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 213 students in 2020-2021.

Full Northern Virginia Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

Notes and References

References

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