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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 85 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Ohio.
Case Western Reserve University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Case Western Reserve University earn around $74,459 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106.
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University Of Dayton came in at #2 on our 2026 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. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Dayton awarded about 54 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $43,609 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
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Xavier University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 38 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $55,045 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Kenyon College, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Gambier. Kenyon College graduates 82% of students within six years. About 48 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kenyon College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Kenyon College earn a median of $23,082 early in their careers. 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 Denison University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Granville. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Denison University earn a median of $39,797 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Denison University
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. 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 323 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $33,360. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,230 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 584 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $27,401 in the first couple years of their 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 placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Oxford. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Miami University Oxford awarded about 109 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Miami University Oxford earn around $25,015 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,821 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Miami University Oxford
Kent State University At Kent came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kent. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 464 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $29,564 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,474.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Kent State University At Kent
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 353 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $30,016 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,963 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Ohio University Main Campus
Cedarville University came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Cedarville. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Cedarville University 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.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Cedarville University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $53,377 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,602 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Capital University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 53 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Capital University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $33,143. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Capital University
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 327 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn around $29,355 in the first couple years of their career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,666 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Sinclair Community College placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 176 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Sinclair Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Sinclair Community College earn around $24,490 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Sinclair Community College
The College Of Wooster landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Wooster. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 18 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.
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University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public institution. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College earn around $42,936 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College graduates carry a median of $19,408 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #18 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,278 in their early career. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,669 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Akron Main Campus
Columbus State Community College placed #19 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. About 409 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.
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University Of Toledo landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 41 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Toledo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $21,443. Typical student debt for the program is $26,736.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Toledo
Youngstown State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Youngstown State University awarded about 65 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,389 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Youngstown State University
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. There were roughly 133 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuyahoga Community College District in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $22,517 early in their careers. 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
Oberlin College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Oberlin, Oberlin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 81% of students finish within six years. About 231 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Oberlin College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $17,094 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
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 124 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Baldwin Wallace College earn around $19,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Otterbein University landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Westerville. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 37 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Otterbein University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $12,546 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,822.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Otterbein University
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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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 · 85 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.
