Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Princeton University the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 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. Princeton University graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Princeton University
The College Of New Jersey is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 87 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $33,214. 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
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at County College Of Morris, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public university. About 96 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at County College Of Morris in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $33,881. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from County College Of Morris
A rank of #4 makes Rowan University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 174 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $29,850. Students borrow a median of $24,788 to complete this degree.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 263 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $30,675. Students borrow a median of $25,540 to complete this degree.
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Montclair State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. Montclair State University awarded about 500 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $32,938 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,524 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Montclair State University
New Jersey Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 26 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at New Jersey Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $38,975. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Bergen Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Paramus, Bergen Community College is a large public university. About 48 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Bergen Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bergen Community College earn a median of $51,280 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,720 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Bergen Community College
Seton Hall University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of South Orange. Seton Hall University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $63,871 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Seton Hall University
Rutgers University Newark placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Newark, Rutgers University Newark is a large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rutgers University Newark in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,835 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,278.
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Burlington County College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Burlington County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Mount Laurel. Burlington County College awarded about 37 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Burlington County College earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,488.
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Rutgers University Camden earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Camden, Rutgers University Camden is a moderately-sized public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 34 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rutgers University Camden in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rutgers University Camden earn a median of $24,552 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,366 to complete this degree.
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The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #13 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Galloway. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 71 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn around $25,020 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,954.
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Hudson County Community College earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Jersey City. Hudson County Community College awarded about 38 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Hudson County Community College earn around $22,619 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,899 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Hudson County Community College
Rider University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rider University awarded about 143 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rider University earn a median of $27,094 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rider University
Kean University landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. About 47% of students finish within six years. Kean University awarded about 144 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $31,388 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,685.
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Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 59 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earn around $19,776 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,115 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
Ramapo College Of New Jersey came in at #18 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 64 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Ramapo College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $22,154 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,395.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Ramapo College Of New Jersey
New Jersey City University came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Jersey City. About 34% of students finish within six years. About 110 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at New Jersey City University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from New Jersey City University earn around $18,840 in the first couple years of their career. New Jersey City University graduates carry a median of $21,209 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from New Jersey City University
Monmouth University came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of West Long Branch, Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Monmouth University awarded about 41 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Monmouth University earn around $24,988 in the first couple years of their career. Monmouth University graduates carry a median of $26,628 in student loans.
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Raritan Valley Community College came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 61 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Raritan Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $47,248 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete this degree.
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Drew University came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Drew University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Madison. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Drew University awarded about 33 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Drew University earn around $13,710 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Middlesex County College landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Middlesex County College is a large public school located in the suburb of Edison. Middlesex County College awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Middlesex County College earn a median of $37,975 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Middlesex County College
William Paterson University Of New Jersey earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Wayne. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $25,872 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,921.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for William Paterson University Of New Jersey
Mercer County Community College placed #25 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of West Windsor. About 55 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Mercer County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Mercer County Community College earn around $45,389 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete this degree.
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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
This ranking is produced 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 · 45 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.
