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.
College Factual analyzed 105 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
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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 Hamilton College the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. Hamilton College graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Hamilton College earn around $48,806 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,131.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Hamilton College
Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 91 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Cornell University earn around $31,073 in the first couple years of their career. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $17,153 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Cornell University
St Lawrence University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Canton. About 79% of students finish within six years. St Lawrence University awarded about 19 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from St Lawrence University generally make around $39,993. Typical student debt for the program is $26,192.
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A rank of #4 makes New York University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,909 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,956 in their early career. New York University graduates carry a median of $24,771 in student loans.
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Barnard College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of New York, Barnard College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Barnard College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Barnard College earn around $39,947 in the first couple years of their career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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Fordham University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. Fordham University awarded about 183 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $28,591 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,529.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Fordham University
Manhattan College came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverdale. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 23 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Manhattan College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Manhattan College earn a median of $61,065 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,968.
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Syracuse University came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 373 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,938 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Marist College earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Marist College graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 104 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Marist College earn a median of $30,674 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,049 to complete this degree.
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Suny At Binghamton placed #10 among 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. There were roughly 147 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $24,859 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,541 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Suny At Binghamton
Fashion Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 1,603 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fashion Institute Of Technology earn a median of $21,084 early in their careers. Fashion Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $18,939 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Fashion Institute Of Technology
Skidmore College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Skidmore College awarded about 83 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $27,676 early in their careers. Skidmore College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Skidmore College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. About 54 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn around $36,191 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Cuny Hunter College landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 284 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $28,583 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,631 to complete this degree.
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Ithaca College landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Ithaca College graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 259 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ithaca College generally make around $21,213. Ithaca College graduates carry a median of $26,607 in student loans.
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Vassar College earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vassar College awarded about 62 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Vassar College generally make around $20,004. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $19,296 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Vassar College
University At Buffalo ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 179 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,756 in their early career. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,580 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University At Buffalo
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 369 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $37,684 early in their careers. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $26,854 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Columbia University In The City Of New York
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 335 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Rochester Institute Of Technology earn around $33,809 in the first couple years of their career. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 290 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Cuny Brooklyn College earn around $22,351 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,209.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Cuny Brooklyn College
Suny College At Oneonta ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 118 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Suny College At Oneonta earn around $26,179 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,191.
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Suny Empire State College came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Suny Empire State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,946 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete this degree.
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Daemen College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Daemen College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Daemen College earn around $63,542 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,358 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Daemen College
Stony Brook University earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Stony Brook. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 146 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Stony Brook University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $34,264. Students borrow a median of $16,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Stony Brook University
Suny College At Cortland earned the #25 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. Suny College At Cortland graduates 68% of students within six years. About 33 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $38,709 early in their careers. Suny College At Cortland graduates carry a median of $25,369 in student loans.
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Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 105 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.
