Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 42 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Ohio.
Leading the list is University Of Dayton, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 43 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $43,609. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Dayton
Xavier University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Xavier University generally make around $55,045. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Xavier University
Denison University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,360 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Denison University
A rank of #4 makes Kenyon College one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 47 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kenyon College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Kenyon College earn around $23,082 in the first couple years of their career. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Kenyon College
A rank of #5 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. About 88% of students finish within six years. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,230 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 556 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,245 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,833 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Miami University Oxford ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 97 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Miami University Oxford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $24,627. Miami University Oxford graduates carry a median of $26,821 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Miami University Oxford
University Of Mount Union placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of Mount Union graduates 59% of students within six years. University Of Mount Union awarded about 18 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Mount Union earn around $52,058 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,988.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Mount Union
Kent State University At Kent ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 426 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $29,082 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,474 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Kent State University At Kent
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 335 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $30,466 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,963 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Ohio University Main Campus
Columbus State Community College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. About 391 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Columbus State Community College in the most recent year. Columbus State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Columbus State Community College
Cedarville University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. Cedarville University graduates 72% of students within six years. Cedarville University awarded about 49 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $35,768. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Cedarville University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 323 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $29,333 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,666.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Bowling Green State University Main Campus
University Of Toledo earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 49 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,446 in their early career. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $26,736 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Toledo
Oberlin College placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Oberlin. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 204 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Oberlin College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $17,075 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,169 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Oberlin College
The College Of Wooster placed #16 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Wooster, The College Of Wooster is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 27 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The College Of Wooster in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The College Of Wooster earn around $32,382 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,936 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for The College Of Wooster
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. About 18 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn a median of $42,936 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,408 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
Sinclair Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. About 216 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Sinclair Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $24,490 early in their careers. Sinclair Community College graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Sinclair Community College
Capital University came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Capital University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Capital University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,143 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Capital University
Youngstown State University came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Youngstown State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $30,867. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Youngstown State University
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. About 110 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $22,517. Cuyahoga Community College District graduates carry a median of $11,795 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Cuyahoga Community College District
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Akron. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Akron Main Campus awarded about 63 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $33,896 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,669 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Akron Main Campus
Baldwin Wallace College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 95 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $21,598. Baldwin Wallace College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Baldwin Wallace College
Ohio Wesleyan University landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Delaware. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Ohio Wesleyan University awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University earn around $22,239 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,868 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Ohio Wesleyan University
Kent State University At Tuscarawas came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of New Philadelphia. About 4% of students finish within six years. About 29 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kent State University At Tuscarawas in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Kent State University At Tuscarawas earn a median of $36,464 early in their careers. Kent State University At Tuscarawas graduates carry a median of $23,569 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Kent State University At Tuscarawas
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
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Notes and References
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 · 42 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.
