2026 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Maine
Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts in Maine
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.
Bowdoin College tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bowdoin College awarded about 20 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Bowdoin College earn around $58,938 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Bowdoin College
Colby College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Waterville. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Colby College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $46,772 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,016.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Colby College
Husson University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bangor. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 43 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Husson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Husson University generally make around $52,868. Students borrow a median of $27,735 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Husson University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Maine one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 40 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $47,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,050 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Maine
University Of Southern Maine is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Portland. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. About 43 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Maine in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $18,923. Typical student debt for the program is $18,703.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Southern Maine
Maine College Of Art placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Maine College Of Art graduates 52% of students within six years. Maine College Of Art awarded about 78 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Maine College Of Art generally make around $27,855. Maine College Of Art graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Maine College Of Art
University Of Maine At Augusta came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public university. About 26% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine At Augusta in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Maine At Augusta earn a median of $45,574 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,313.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Maine At Augusta
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 15 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.
