Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 1247 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
The visual & performing arts program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Santa Clara University the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $79,380 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,144.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Santa Clara University
Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 17 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $79,632 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Georgetown University
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Stanford University
A rank of #4 makes Dartmouth College one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dartmouth College awarded about 63 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $30,246 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $13,663 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Dartmouth College
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 60 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $81,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Chicago
Gonzaga University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Spokane. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Gonzaga University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Gonzaga University earn around $58,733 in the first couple years of their career. Gonzaga University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Gonzaga University
San Jose State University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 540 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from San Jose State University
Duke University placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. About 59 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Duke University
Vanderbilt University placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 81 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Vanderbilt University
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 19 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,420 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Texas A And M University College Station
Wellesley College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. Wellesley College awarded about 22 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $48,902. Typical student debt for the program is $11,075.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Wellesley College
Boston College landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 25 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Boston College earn around $66,132 in the first couple years of their career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Boston College
Marquette University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Marquette University
Lehigh University earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Lehigh University
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 513 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $35,363 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,896 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Carleton College came in at #16 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Northfield. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carleton College awarded about 23 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Carleton College
University Of San Diego earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of San Diego
James Madison University landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 266 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from James Madison University earn around $33,394 in the first couple years of their career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,046 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from James Madison University
Sacred Heart University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Sacred Heart University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Sacred Heart University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Sacred Heart University
Wake Forest University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Wake Forest University
Wesleyan University earned the #21 position for visual & performing arts this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. Wesleyan University awarded about 111 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Wesleyan University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn around $91,834 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Northwestern University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 408 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $27,335 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,822 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Northwestern University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 78 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $29,846. Typical student debt for the program is $17,008.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
The College Of New Jersey landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. The College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the suburb of Ewing. About 86% of students finish within six years. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 86 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $33,214. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for The College Of New Jersey
Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1247 schools evaluated.
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).
