Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 813 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
No school ranked higher than Stanford University this year for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. About 34 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Stanford University
Santa Clara University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. About 88% of students finish within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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 #3. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. Georgetown University awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Georgetown University
Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 299 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,056 in their early career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $17,822 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #5. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 63 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Dartmouth College earn around $30,246 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $13,663 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Dartmouth College
San Jose State University ranked #6 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 506 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at San Jose State University
Wake Forest University came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Wake Forest University earn around $67,369 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Wake Forest University
Duke University came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 37 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Duke University
University Of Chicago earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Chicago awarded about 51 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Chicago
Gonzaga University landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Gonzaga University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $58,733 in their early career. Gonzaga University graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Gonzaga University
Vanderbilt University placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 80 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $77,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Vanderbilt University
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 16 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent 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.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Texas A And M University College Station
Wellesley College placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,075.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Wellesley College
Boston College came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston College awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Boston College earn around $66,132 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Boston College
Marquette University came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 83% of students finish within six years. Marquette University awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Marquette University
Lehigh University placed #16 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lehigh University awarded about 30 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Lehigh University
Carleton College placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. Carleton College awarded about 23 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Carleton College earn around $45,096 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Carleton College
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 330 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $30,276 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,915 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Diego came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of San Diego earn around $68,281 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,795.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of San Diego
Wesleyan University landed the #20 spot 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. About 98 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,764 in their early career. Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Wesleyan University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 489 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $25,908. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,671 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Williams College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Williamstown. Williams College graduates 94% of students within six years. About 64 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,560 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Williams College
James Madison University earned the #23 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 255 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $33,263 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,046.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for James Madison University
Princeton University came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Princeton. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 18 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Princeton University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Princeton University
Sacred Heart University landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Sacred Heart University awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $62,864 in their early career. Sacred Heart University graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Sacred Heart University
Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
This ranking is produced 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 · 813 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).
