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 22 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 Colorado.
University Of Denver is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 125 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Denver in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $26,622 early in their careers. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Colorado College, which ranked #2. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 58 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Colorado College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Colorado College earn around $37,342 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Colorado State University Fort Collins one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 227 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Colorado State University Fort Collins in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $37,746 in their early career. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates carry a median of $24,868 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 346 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Colorado Boulder earn around $28,191 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,902.
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University Of Colorado Denver is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public school located in the city of Denver. University Of Colorado Denver graduates 46% of students within six years. University Of Colorado Denver awarded about 200 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,032 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,664.
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University Of Northern Colorado came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. University Of Northern Colorado graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 194 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Colorado in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Colorado generally make around $32,929. Typical student debt for the program is $24,469.
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Front Range Community College landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Westminster. Front Range Community College awarded about 126 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $21,397. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
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Arapahoe Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a very large public institution. Arapahoe Community College awarded about 67 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Arapahoe Community College earn a median of $32,100 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Aims Community College came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Aims Community College is a large public school located in the city of Greeley. Aims Community College awarded about 48 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Aims Community College generally make around $45,909. Typical student debt for the program is $11,199.
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Community College Of Aurora placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. Community College Of Aurora awarded about 62 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Community College Of Aurora earn around $20,533 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,750.
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Red Rocks Community College earned the #11 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Lakewood. Red Rocks Community College awarded about 68 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $76,340 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,471.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Red Rocks Community College
Fort Lewis College placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public university. Fort Lewis College graduates 36% of students within six years. About 33 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Fort Lewis College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $22,754 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
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Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 31%. Metropolitan State College Of Denver awarded about 113 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Metropolitan State College Of Denver generally make around $28,709. Students borrow a median of $30,227 to complete this degree.
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Pikes Peak Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak Community College awarded about 67 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pikes Peak Community College earn a median of $41,037 early in their careers. Pikes Peak Community College graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans.
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Community College Of Denver ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Community College Of Denver awarded about 40 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $45,202. Typical student debt for the program is $18,830.
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University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public school located in the city of Colorado Springs. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs graduates 47% of students within six years. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs awarded about 47 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,966 in their early career. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans.
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Pueblo Community College placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Pueblo Community College awarded about 15 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pueblo Community College generally make around $42,377. Students borrow a median of $14,106 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Pueblo Community College
Western State College Of Colorado earned the #18 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public institution. Western State College Of Colorado graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Western State College Of Colorado in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Western State College Of Colorado earn a median of $36,712 early in their careers. Western State College Of Colorado graduates carry a median of $23,455 in student loans.
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Mesa State College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 56 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Mesa State College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $25,175 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the suburb of Lakewood. Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design graduates 32% of students within six years. There were roughly 253 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,829 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $46,544.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design
Pickens Technical College came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. This small public university is located in the city of Aurora. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Pickens Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pickens Technical College generally make around $35,622. Typical student debt for the program is $10,250.
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Emily Griffith Technical College placed #22 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Emily Griffith Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Emily Griffith Technical College generally make around $42,412. Emily Griffith Technical College graduates carry a median of $9,725 in student loans.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 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.
