Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Washington.
Our analysis ranked University Of Washington Seattle Campus the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 375 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $29,682 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,915 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bothell. University Of Washington Bothell Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Washington Bothell Campus awarded about 14 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $65,932 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,667 to complete this degree.
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Whitman College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. Whitman College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Walla Walla. Whitman College graduates 80% of students within six years. Whitman College awarded about 27 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Whitman College earn around $32,345 in the first couple years of their career. Whitman College graduates carry a median of $17,518 in student loans.
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Washington State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 99 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $44,823 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,066 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Western Washington University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Washington University awarded about 167 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $23,319 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,423.
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Seattle Pacific University placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. About 62% of students finish within six years. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 57 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $38,026. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Seattle University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle University awarded about 65 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Seattle University earn around $35,150 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,950 to complete this degree.
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Central Washington University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Ellensburg. Central Washington University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 168 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Central Washington University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $40,515 in their early career. Central Washington University graduates carry a median of $25,346 in student loans.
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Bellevue College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Bellevue College is a large public school located in the city of Bellevue. Bellevue College awarded about 51 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bellevue College generally make around $45,947. Bellevue College graduates carry a median of $33,660 in student loans.
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Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Kirkland. About 18 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lake Washington Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $60,000 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Lake Washington Institute Of Technology
Seattle Community College North Campus came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College North Campus awarded about 19 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $48,739 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,643 to complete this degree.
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Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Community College Central Campus awarded about 70 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of $29,775 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,085.
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University Of Puget Sound landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Puget Sound graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Puget Sound in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Puget Sound earn a median of $26,064 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,758 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Washington University placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Washington University awarded about 105 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Eastern Washington University earn around $25,090 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,060.
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Pacific Lutheran University placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Pacific Lutheran University graduates 69% of students within six years. Pacific Lutheran University awarded about 48 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,435 in their early career. Pacific Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $25,723 in student loans.
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Highline Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Des Moines. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Highline Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Highline Community College earn around $55,459 in the first couple years of their career. Highline Community College graduates carry a median of $8,958 in student loans.
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Shoreline Community College came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. Shoreline Community College awarded about 116 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Shoreline Community College generally make around $62,009. Students borrow a median of $17,644 to complete this degree.
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The Evergreen State College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Olympia. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. The Evergreen State College awarded about 28 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The Evergreen State College earn around $26,942 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,850 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for The Evergreen State College
Spokane Falls Community College earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Spokane, Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Spokane Falls Community College awarded about 37 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Spokane Falls Community College earn around $21,508 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,657 to complete this degree.
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Clover Park Technical College earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 32 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Clover Park Technical College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of $42,209 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,154.
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Walla Walla University landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of College Place, Walla Walla University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 21 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Walla Walla University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Walla Walla University earn a median of $28,436 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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Seattle Film Institute earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Film Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Seattle Film Institute awarded about 42 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Seattle Film Institute generally make around $24,237. Students borrow a median of $21,664 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Seattle Film Institute
Northwest College Of Art And Design came in at #23 for visual & performing arts this year. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Tacoma. About 58% of students finish within six years. Northwest College Of Art And Design awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,694 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,750.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Northwest College Of Art And Design
Cornish College Of The Arts earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Cornish College Of The Arts is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Cornish College Of The Arts awarded about 81 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cornish College Of The Arts earn a median of $18,434 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 47 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
