Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2217 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 38 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 224 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Saint Marys College Of California came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 65 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Saint Marys College Of California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $42,078. Students borrow a median of $27,304 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Saint Marys College Of California
A rank of #4 makes Chapman University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 247 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $25,657 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,846.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 157 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,943 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,088 to complete this degree.
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University Of Utah ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Utah awarded about 126 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $41,322. Students borrow a median of $19,061 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Utah
Villanova University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. About 92% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $72,601 in their early career. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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University Of California Los Angeles came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 262 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $19,512 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,284.
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Wake Forest University landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 22 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 273 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from San Jose State University
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 287 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $32,962 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $24,980 in student loans.
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University Of Southern California earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 527 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $31,079. Typical student debt for the program is $19,142.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Southern California
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 45 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $32,318. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $17,008 in student loans.
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University Of California Davis came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Davis awarded about 384 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,873 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,804.
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Butler University came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Butler University awarded about 86 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Butler University earn a median of $34,911 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,236.
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Harvard University placed #16 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Harvard University earn around $115,516 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 126 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $36,611. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
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New York University landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 647 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of New York University earn a median of $35,580 early in their careers. New York University graduates carry a median of $24,771 in student loans.
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Emerson College landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Emerson College awarded about 613 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $34,302. Emerson College graduates carry a median of $24,872 in student loans.
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Williams College landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 46 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,560 in their early career. Williams College graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Vestal, Suny At Binghamton is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 82 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,895 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,541.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 152 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $34,655 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. Northeastern University awarded about 129 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $36,074. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Washington University In St Louis ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 98 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $19,089 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 192 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $37,819 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,837 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 2217 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).
