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2027 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region

83 Colleges in the United States
9,878 Visual & Performing Arts Degrees Awarded
$36,109 Avg Early-Career Salary

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:

Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts in the New England Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in the New England Region.

Top Schools in Visual & Performing Arts

1
Dartmouth College crest
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH

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

2
Wellesley College crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA

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

3
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

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

4

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

5
Wesleyan University crest
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT

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

6

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

7
Williams College crest
Williams College
Williamstown, MA

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

8
Amherst College crest
Amherst College
Amherst, MA

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

9

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

10
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

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

11
Connecticut College crest
Connecticut College
New London, CT

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

12
Colby College crest
Colby College
Waterville, ME

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

13
Emerson College crest
Emerson College
Boston, MA

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

14
Brown University crest
Brown University
Providence, RI

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

15

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

16

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

17
Middlebury College crest
Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT

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

18
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

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

19

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

20

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

21
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT

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

22

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

23

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

24

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

25

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

Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:

26
27
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
28
29
30
31
32
University Of Vermont crest
University Of Vermont
Burlington, VT
33
Smith College crest
Smith College
Northampton, MA
34
Champlain College crest
Champlain College
Burlington, VT
35
36
37
38
Mount Holyoke College crest
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
Lesley University crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
46
47
48
49
Clark University crest
Clark University
Worcester, MA
50

View All Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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