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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 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 Maryland.
Leading the list is University Of Maryland College Park, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $43,152. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,948 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Maryland College Park
St Marys College Of Maryland is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. This small public university is located in the rural area of St. Mary's City. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. St Marys College Of Maryland awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of St Marys College Of Maryland earn a median of $41,665 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,655.
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Towson University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Towson University awarded about 215 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Towson University earn a median of $26,263 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,540.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Johns Hopkins University, which ranked #4. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 295 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,620 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Mcdaniel College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 28 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Mcdaniel College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mcdaniel College generally make around $54,904. Students borrow a median of $23,247 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Mcdaniel College
Salisbury University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Salisbury. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Salisbury University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $20,632 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,239.
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Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 437 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Maryland Institute College Of Art in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $37,356 early in their careers. Maryland Institute College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland Baltimore County earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 139 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore County in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,494 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,996.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Maryland Baltimore County
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Arnold. There were roughly 50 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Anne Arundel Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $59,894 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,947.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Anne Arundel Community College
Frostburg State University placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Frostburg. About 50% of students finish within six years. Frostburg State University awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Frostburg State University generally make around $24,649. Typical student debt for the program is $24,834.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Frostburg State University
Harford Community College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Bel Air. Harford Community College awarded about 44 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $50,636 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,624 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Harford Community College
Prince Georges Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Largo. There were roughly 37 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Prince Georges Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $56,960 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,949.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Prince Georges Community College
University Of Baltimore placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Baltimore is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. University Of Baltimore graduates 38% of students within six years. About 16 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Baltimore in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $63,652 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,681.
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Frederick Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Frederick, Frederick Community College is a large public university. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Frederick Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $43,733 in their early career. Frederick Community College graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans.
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Stevenson University placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Owings Mills, Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Stevenson University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Stevenson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,716 in their early career. Stevenson University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Stevenson University
The Community College Of Baltimore County landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Baltimore. There were roughly 71 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The Community College Of Baltimore County in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $52,440 in their early career. The Community College Of Baltimore County graduates carry a median of $18,038 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from The Community College Of Baltimore County
Montgomery College placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. Montgomery College awarded about 139 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Montgomery College earn around $24,833 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,230.
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University Of Maryland Eastern Shore came in at #18 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Princess Anne, University Of Maryland Eastern Shore is a mid-sized public institution. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates 35% of students within six years. University Of Maryland Eastern Shore awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,742 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,996 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Maryland Eastern Shore
Morgan State University placed #19 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. Morgan State University awarded about 47 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Morgan State University earn around $49,736 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,631.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Morgan State University
Cecil College earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of North East. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Cecil College in the most recent year.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Cecil College
Bowie State University came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Bowie. About 38% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bowie State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $47,668. Bowie State University graduates carry a median of $28,474 in student loans.
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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 · 21 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.