Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 45 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Massachusetts.
Wellesley College tops our 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wellesley College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,075.
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Boston College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Boston College graduates 91% of students within six years. About 25 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $66,132. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete this degree.
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Williams College came in at #4 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. Williams College graduates 94% of students 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. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. Typical student debt for the program is $11,850.
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Amherst College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Amherst College graduates 94% of students within six years. About 26 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Amherst College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Amherst College earn around $59,271 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree.
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Brandeis University landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts this year. 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. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $47,783 in their early career. Brandeis University graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans.
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Harvard University placed #7 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. About 147 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $115,516 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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Emerson College came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Emerson College graduates 77% of students within six years. Emerson College awarded about 616 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $28,400. Typical student debt for the program is $24,872.
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Boston University landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 418 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Boston University earn around $31,230 in the first couple years of their career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,127 in student loans.
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Northeastern University came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northeastern University awarded about 169 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $30,870. Northeastern University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Wentworth Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Wentworth Institute Of Technology graduates 68% of students within six years. Wentworth Institute Of Technology awarded about 51 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wentworth Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,599 early in their careers. Wentworth Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Lowell. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 94 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $36,317 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,283 to complete this degree.
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Bridgewater State University earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Bridgewater State University earn around $29,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 209 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $26,359. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Tufts University earned the #15 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. Tufts University awarded about 192 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,543 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
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Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. About 26 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Middlesex Community College Bedford in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Middlesex Community College Bedford generally make around $48,427. Typical student debt for the program is $12,755.
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Longy School Of Music Of Bard College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit university. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College awarded about 104 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Longy School Of Music Of Bard College generally make around $30,660.
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Smith College placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Smith College graduates 89% of students within six years. Smith College awarded about 55 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Smith College earn around $20,171 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
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Wheaton College Massachusetts landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Norton. About 73% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wheaton College Massachusetts earn a median of $28,564 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
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Mount Holyoke College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of South Hadley. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Mount Holyoke College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $18,420 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
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Suffolk University landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Suffolk University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Suffolk University generally make around $39,514. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Massachusetts College Of Art And Design ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design awarded about 350 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn a median of $30,546 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,807.
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Lesley University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 118 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lesley University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,902 in their early career. Lesley University graduates carry a median of $25,588 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #24 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 33 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Massachusetts Boston earn around $36,980 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Emmanuel College Massachusetts in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Emmanuel College Massachusetts earn around $32,413 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.