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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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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.
Northwest Nazarene University tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northwest Nazarene University generally make around $50,330. Typical student debt for the program is $27,562.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Northwest Nazarene University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Idaho one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This large public university is located in the town of Moscow. University Of Idaho graduates 57% of students within six years. University Of Idaho awarded about 123 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,935 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,590 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Idaho
A rank of #3 makes Idaho State University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. Idaho State University graduates 35% of students within six years. About 40 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Idaho State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Idaho State University earn around $51,446 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,640 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Idaho State University
Brigham Young University Idaho is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 437 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,196 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,860 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Brigham Young University Idaho
A rank of #5 makes North Idaho College one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 33 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at North Idaho College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from North Idaho College generally make around $49,489. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for North Idaho College
Boise State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boise State University awarded about 175 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Boise State University generally make around $31,083. Students borrow a median of $28,599 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Boise State University
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 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.
