Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 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.
Leading the list is Brown University, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. Brown University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Brown University awarded about 64 visual & performing arts degrees 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.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Brown University
Salve Regina University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Newport. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 26 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Salve Regina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Salve Regina University earn around $56,636 in the first couple years of their career. Salve Regina University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Salve Regina University
University Of Rhode Island came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 116 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $22,115 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,955.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Rhode Island
Roger Williams University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Bristol, Roger Williams University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Roger Williams University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Roger Williams University earn a median of $48,664 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,445.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Roger Williams University
Rhode Island School Of Design came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Providence. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 364 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rhode Island School Of Design in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Rhode Island School Of Design earn around $24,374 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rhode Island School Of Design
New England Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of East Greenwich. New England Institute Of Technology awarded about 72 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from New England Institute Of Technology earn around $26,833 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,128 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for New England Institute Of Technology
Rhode Island College placed #7 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Rhode Island College awarded about 76 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $28,719 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,038.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rhode Island College
Community College Of Rhode Island ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public school located in the city of Warwick. About 39 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Community College Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Community College Of Rhode Island generally make around $18,544. Community College Of Rhode Island graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Community College Of Rhode Island
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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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 · 8 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.
