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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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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.
No school ranked higher than Dartmouth College this year for 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. Dartmouth College awarded about 51 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $30,246 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,663 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Dartmouth College
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Located in the town of Durham, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public university. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates 76% of students within six years. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus awarded about 72 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $29,239. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Keene State College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. Set in the town of Keene, Keene State College is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Keene State College awarded about 84 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Keene State College generally make around $32,167. Keene State College graduates carry a median of $26,446 in student loans.
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Plymouth State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. Set in the town of Plymouth, Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public institution. Plymouth State University graduates 52% of students within six years. Plymouth State University awarded about 33 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Plymouth State University earn around $28,637 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Plymouth State University
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 1,090 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern New Hampshire University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southern New Hampshire University earn a median of $35,484 early in their careers. Southern New Hampshire University graduates carry a median of $31,830 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester Community College Nh earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Manchester Community College Nh is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Manchester. About 18 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Manchester Community College Nh in the most recent year.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Manchester Community College Nh
New England College earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Henniker, New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 35% of students finish within six years. New England College awarded about 40 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of New England College earn a median of $68,950 early in their careers. New England College graduates carry a median of $35,038 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for New England College
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 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.
