by our College Data Analytics Team
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 “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast 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 Southeast region, there were 31,680 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,309 and $25,563 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 475 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. To top this list, a school must have a successful visual and performing arts program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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.
The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region visual & performing arts students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Full Sail University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Winter Park, Florida, and it awarded 2,551 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 475 schools in the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Savannah College of Art and Design landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Savannah, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,867 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Florida. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Orlando, Florida, this large public school awarded 1,106 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Central Florida
Out of the 475 schools in the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Belmont University landed the #4 spot on the list. Belmont is a medium-sized school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 659 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
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 Belmont University
Out of the 475 schools in the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #5 spot on the list. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 627 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Florida State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, this large public school handed out 583 degrees to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Florida State University
With a ranking of #7, Georgia State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this large public school handed out 496 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students in 2020-2021.
Middle Tennessee State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #8. Middle Tennessee State University is a public institution located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 487 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Middle Tennessee State University Visual & Performing Arts Report
Liberty University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 434 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Liberty University
University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 447 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Florida
University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #11. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 347 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
With a ranking of #12, George Mason University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. George Mason University is located in Fairfax, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 342 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.
Full George Mason University Visual & Performing Arts Report
University of Miami did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #13. U Miami is a fairly large school located in Coral Gables, Florida that handed out 341 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, South Carolina. It awarded 324 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Georgia came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Athens, Georgia, this large public school handed out 374 diplomas to qualified ’s visual and performing arts students 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 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of Georgia
Appalachian State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Boone, North Carolina, and it awarded 284 ’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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Appalachian State University Visual & Performing Arts Report
James Madison University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 278 ’s visual and performing arts 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%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at James Madison University
The University of Alabama ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and it awarded 249 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of South Florida - Main Campus ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 246 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 University of South Florida - Main Campus Visual & Performing Arts Report
West Virginia University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Morgantown, West Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 241 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at West Virginia University
University of North Carolina School of the Arts ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 245 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.
University of Kentucky came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, Kentucky and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 258 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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.
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College is a large school located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that handed out 234 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Louisiana State University
Miami Dade College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #24. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 246 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Miami Dade College
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Visual & Performing Arts Major in the Southeast Region ranking. 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.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Virginia Community College
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, NC |
| 52 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| 53 | Winthrop University | Rock Hill, SC |
| 54 | University of North Florida | Jacksonville, FL |
| 55 | Elon University | Elon, NC |
| 56 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY |
| 57 | Valencia College | Orlando, FL |
| 57 | AI Miami International University of Art and Design | Miami, FL |
| 59 | Tulane University of Louisiana | New Orleans, LA |
| 60 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA |
| 61 | The University of Tampa | Tampa, FL |
| 62 | University of North Carolina at Asheville | Asheville, NC |
| 62 | Coastal Carolina University | Conway, SC |
| 64 | University of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA |
| 65 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | University of Mississippi | University, MS |
| 67 | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN |
| 68 | Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN |
| 69 | Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN |
| 70 | Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC |
| 71 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
| 71 | Regent University | Virginia Beach, VA |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
