Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 83 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in the New England Region.
Dartmouth College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Dartmouth College earn around $30,246 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,663 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Dartmouth College
Wellesley College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. Wellesley College awarded about 22 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $48,902. Typical student debt for the program is $11,075.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Wellesley College
Boston College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. Boston College awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Boston College
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Sacred Heart University, which ranked #4. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 35 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Sacred Heart University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sacred Heart University earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Sacred Heart University
Wesleyan University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 93% of students finish within six years. About 111 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Wesleyan University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Worcester. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates 90% of students within six years. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn around $91,834 in the first couple years of their career. Worcester Polytechnic Institute graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Williams College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Williams College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Williams College earn around $34,560 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Williams College
Amherst College came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Amherst College graduates 94% of students within six years. Amherst College awarded about 26 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Amherst College earn around $59,271 in the first couple years of their career. Amherst College graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Amherst College
Brandeis University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 48 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Brandeis University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Brandeis University
Harvard University landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Harvard University awarded about 147 visual & performing arts degrees 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.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Harvard University
Connecticut College placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New London. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 48 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Connecticut College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Connecticut College earn around $36,564 in the first couple years of their career. Connecticut College graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Connecticut College
Colby College placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Colby College awarded about 22 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $46,772 in their early career. Colby College graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Colby College
Emerson College landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Emerson College awarded about 616 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,400 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,872 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Emerson College
Brown University earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 64 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Brown University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $23,180. Typical student debt for the program is $17,300.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Brown University
Salve Regina University placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Salve Regina University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Newport. Salve Regina University graduates 77% of students within six years. Salve Regina University awarded about 26 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Salve Regina University generally make around $56,636. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Salve Regina University
University Of Connecticut came in at #16 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 107 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $27,575 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,722 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Connecticut
Middlebury College came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Middlebury. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Middlebury College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Middlebury College earn around $54,713 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,948.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Middlebury College
Boston University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Boston University graduates 89% of students within six years. Boston University awarded about 418 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Boston University earn a median of $31,230 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,127 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Boston University
Quinnipiac University placed #19 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hamden. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 100 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Quinnipiac University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Quinnipiac University earn around $33,536 in the first couple years of their career. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $26,554 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Quinnipiac University
Northeastern University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Northeastern University graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 169 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,870 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Northeastern University
Yale University earned the #21 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Yale University graduates 96% of students within six years. Yale University awarded about 366 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Yale University earn a median of $22,015 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Yale University
Wentworth Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 51 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Wentworth Institute Of Technology earn around $50,599 in the first couple years of their career. Wentworth Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Wentworth Institute Of Technology
University Of Rhode Island came in at #23 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 116 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Rhode Island earn a median of $22,115 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,955.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of Rhode Island
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 94 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,317 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,283.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Bridgewater State University earned the #25 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,595 in their early career. Bridgewater State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Bridgewater State University
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 83 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.