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 155 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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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.
No school ranked higher than University Of Chicago this year for visual & performing arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. University Of Chicago awarded about 60 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Marquette University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marquette University awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $60,443 in their early career. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Marquette University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Wisconsin Madison, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 513 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $35,363. Typical student debt for the program is $19,896.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Northwestern University, which ranked #4. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 408 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $27,335 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,822.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Northwestern University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Notre Dame, which ranked #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 71 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $40,763 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,566 to complete this degree.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 611 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,334 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,671.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 209 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $37,743 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,481 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Purdue University Main Campus
University Of Dayton ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 43 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $43,609 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Dayton
Illinois State University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 269 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,033 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,735.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Illinois State University
Xavier University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Xavier University graduates 68% of students within six years. Xavier University awarded about 53 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $55,045 in their early career. Xavier University graduates carry a median of $26,614 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Xavier University
Denison University placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,797 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,360.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Denison University
Kenyon College placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kenyon College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Kenyon College earn around $23,082 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Kenyon College
Butler University placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 85 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Butler University earn around $34,911 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,236.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Butler University
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 341 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $32,943 early in their careers. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,230 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 302 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $26,855 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $22,183 in student loans.
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Loyola University Chicago ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 75 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Loyola University Chicago
Madison Area Technical College came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. 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. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $30,710. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
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Kalamazoo College placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kalamazoo College awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kalamazoo College generally make around $37,374. Typical student debt for the program is $26,118.
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Lawrence Technological University came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. About 60% of students finish within six years. Lawrence Technological University awarded about 36 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. Lawrence Technological University graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 111 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $40,376 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,170.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 556 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $28,245 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,833 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Indiana University Bloomington landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 704 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,758 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Indiana University Bloomington
Carroll University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 18 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Carroll University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $52,404 in their early career. Carroll University graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Carroll University
Michigan State University came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 487 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $37,076 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,185 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Michigan State University
Lawrence University came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Appleton, Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 89 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lawrence University in the most recent year. Lawrence University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Lawrence University
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for visual & performing arts:
Narrow Visual & Performing Arts Schools by State
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Notes and References
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 · 155 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.
