Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 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 Wisconsin.
Leading the list is Marquette University, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Marquette University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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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A rank of #3 makes Madison Area Technical College one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. There were roughly 62 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Madison Area Technical College earn around $30,710 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 111 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $40,376. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans.
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Carroll University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Waukesha, Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carroll University awarded about 18 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Carroll University earn around $52,404 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,904.
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Lawrence University placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Appleton, Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 89 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lawrence University in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $19,000.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Whitewater. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 102 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,198 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $27,052 in student loans.
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Fox Valley Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. About 25 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,673 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,582.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. About 23 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Chippewa Valley Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $45,531 in their early career. Chippewa Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $14,234 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Menomonie. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin Stout awarded about 229 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,275 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,090 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $37,379 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete this degree.
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Waukesha County Technical College landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. There were roughly 54 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Waukesha County Technical College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $39,095 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,554.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Oshkosh. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh awarded about 55 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn around $38,585 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 27 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn around $19,407 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
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University Of Wisconsin Green Bay ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 49 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Green Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay earn around $32,991 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,186 to complete this degree.
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Western Technical College La Cross ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Western Technical College La Cross is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. About 52 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Western Technical College La Cross in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $23,032 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,057.
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University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point awarded about 105 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,399 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,180.
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Gateway Technical College placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public institution. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Gateway Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Gateway Technical College earn around $29,734 in the first couple years of their career. Gateway Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. About 302 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earn a median of $29,947 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates carry a median of $26,589 in student loans.
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Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. There were roughly 65 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Milwaukee Area Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,795 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,296.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Milwaukee Area Technical College
Carthage College landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kenosha. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 53 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Carthage College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $25,889 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 155 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design earn around $26,619 in the first couple years of their career. Milwaukee Institute Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. About 21 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin River Falls came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 25 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin River Falls in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $28,801. Typical student debt for the program is $30,084.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Wisconsin River Falls
Moraine Park Technical College placed #25 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fond du Lac. Moraine Park Technical College awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $21,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,471.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 27 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.
