Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 369 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
No school ranked higher than County College Of Morris this year for visual & performing arts. County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Randolph. About 94 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at County College Of Morris in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $33,881. Typical student debt for the program is $9,250.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for County College Of Morris
A rank of #2 makes Collin County Community College District one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. There were roughly 128 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Collin County Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Collin County Community College District earn around $33,456 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Collin County Community College District
A rank of #3 makes College Of Dupage one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 68 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,463. Students borrow a median of $10,653 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for College Of Dupage
Fashion Institute Of Technology is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. About 1,013 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fashion Institute Of Technology generally make around $15,664. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $13,083 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Fashion Institute Of Technology
Madison Area Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 62 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Madison Area Technical College earn around $30,710 in the first couple years of their career. Madison Area Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Madison Area Technical College
Bellevue College earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public university. Bellevue College awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bellevue College earn a median of $45,947 early in their careers. Bellevue College graduates carry a median of $33,660 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Bellevue College
Cuny New York City College Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Cuny New York City College Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny New York City College Of Technology graduates 21% of students within six years. Cuny New York City College Of Technology awarded about 115 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Cuny New York City College Of Technology earn around $20,358 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,715 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Cuny New York City College Of Technology
American Musical And Dramatic Academy came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 52% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 345 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at American Musical And Dramatic Academy in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from American Musical And Dramatic Academy generally make around $15,909. Students borrow a median of $13,038 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Weber State University landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ogden. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 106 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Weber State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Weber State University earn around $40,507 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,851.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Weber State University
Palm Beach State College placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a very large public university. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Palm Beach State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $35,555. Typical student debt for the program is $12,518.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Palm Beach State College
The New School earned the #11 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of New York, The New School is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 1,221 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The New School in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The New School generally make around $26,390. Typical student debt for the program is $24,112.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for The New School
Scottsdale Community College earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public institution. About 429 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Scottsdale Community College earn around $38,676 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,187.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Scottsdale Community College
Johnson County Community College earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $32,030 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,625 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Johnson County Community College
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Alexandria. About 28 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $31,830. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Alexandria Technical And Community College
New England Institute Of Technology earned the #15 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of East Greenwich. About 45 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at New England Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,282 in their early career. New England Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $23,937 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from New England Institute Of Technology
Austin Community College District ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. About 311 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Austin Community College District in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,045 in their early career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $17,389 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Austin Community College District
Kirkwood Community College placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 43 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kirkwood Community College generally make around $32,116. Typical student debt for the program is $10,519.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Kirkwood Community College
Dakota County Technical College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 40 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Dakota County Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $50,429. Students borrow a median of $13,474 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Dakota County Technical College
Middlesex Community College Bedford ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Middlesex Community College Bedford awarded about 26 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $48,427. Middlesex Community College Bedford graduates carry a median of $12,755 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Middlesex Community College Bedford
Valencia College came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Valencia College is a very large public school located in the city of Orlando. Valencia College awarded about 96 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Valencia College earn a median of $22,446 early in their careers. Valencia College graduates carry a median of $10,812 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Valencia College
Bergen Community College came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Paramus. Bergen Community College awarded about 50 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $51,280 in their early career. Bergen Community College graduates carry a median of $17,720 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Bergen Community College
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. There were roughly 25 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $32,673. Typical student debt for the program is $16,582.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Fox Valley Technical College
Mesa Community College earned the #23 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 893 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Mesa Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Mesa Community College
Santa Rosa Junior College placed #24 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 108 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Santa Rosa Junior College generally make around $80,047. Santa Rosa Junior College graduates carry a median of $14,692 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Santa Rosa Junior College
Harper College landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. There were roughly 38 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Harper College
Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 369 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).
