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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 230 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 17 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $79,632. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Georgetown University
Lehigh University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lehigh University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Lehigh University
The College Of New Jersey is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 86 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The College Of New Jersey earn around $33,214 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from The College Of New Jersey
A rank of #4 makes Hamilton College one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Hamilton College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Hamilton College earn a median of $48,806 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,131.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #5. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 267 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $43,152 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,948 in student loans.
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Princeton University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 56 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Princeton University
Saint Josephs University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 79% of students finish within six years. Saint Josephs University awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $65,421 in their early career. Saint Josephs University graduates carry a median of $26,426 in student loans.
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American University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. American University awarded about 191 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from American University earn around $33,250 in the first couple years of their career. American University graduates carry a median of $23,918 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from American University
Dickinson College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Carlisle, Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Dickinson College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,937 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,014 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Dickinson College
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 127 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,911 in their early career. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $23,327 in student loans.
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Cornell University landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Cornell University awarded about 91 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $31,073 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,153 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Cornell University
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #12 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 127 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Pennsylvania placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 78 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,619 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,359.
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St Lawrence University placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Canton, St Lawrence University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. St Lawrence University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at St Lawrence University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from St Lawrence University earn around $39,993 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,192 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for St Lawrence University
New York University landed the #15 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. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,909 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from New York University generally make around $29,956. Students borrow a median of $24,771 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at New York University
Gettysburg College earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Gettysburg. Gettysburg College graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Gettysburg College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Gettysburg College earn a median of $27,556 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,309.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Gettysburg College
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 346 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $30,446. Students borrow a median of $25,540 to complete this degree.
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Barnard College came in at #18 for visual & performing arts this year. Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 93% of students finish within six years. Barnard College awarded about 48 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Barnard College generally make around $39,947. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Barnard College
University Of Delaware came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. University Of Delaware awarded about 160 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $34,182. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $25,627 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Delaware
Swarthmore College earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Swarthmore. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 27 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Swarthmore College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $66,971 in their early career. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Swarthmore College
St Marys College Of Maryland earned the #21 position for visual & performing arts this year. This small public university is located in the rural area of St. Mary's City. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at St Marys College Of Maryland in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of St Marys College Of Maryland earn a median of $41,665 early in their careers. St Marys College Of Maryland graduates carry a median of $22,655 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from St Marys College Of Maryland
County College Of Morris earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. County College Of Morris awarded about 94 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from County College Of Morris earn around $33,881 in the first couple years of their career. County College Of Morris graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from County College Of Morris
Fordham University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 183 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,591 in their early career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,529 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Fordham University
Rowan University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 214 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,564 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,788 to complete this degree.
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Towson University earned the #25 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Towson. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 215 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $26,263. Students borrow a median of $18,540 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Towson University
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
Honorable Mentions
A few more visual & performing arts schools worth a look:
- #51 — New Jersey Institute Of Technology · Newark, NJ
- #52 — Suny College At Oneonta · Oneonta, NY
- #53 — Suny Empire State College · Saratoga Springs, NY
- #54 — Salisbury University · Salisbury, MD
- #55 — Chatham University · Pittsburgh, PA
- #56 — Daemen College · Amherst, NY
- #57 — Rutgers University Newark · Newark, NJ
- #58 — Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY
- #59 — Suny College At Cortland · Cortland, NY
- #60 — Niagara University · Niagara University, NY
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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 · 230 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.