Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
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.
Our analysis ranked Montana State University the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. About 57% of students finish within six years. Montana State University awarded about 176 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $34,125 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,450 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Montana State University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at The University Of Montana, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. The University Of Montana awarded about 144 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $22,590. Students borrow a median of $26,899 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for The University Of Montana
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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 · 12 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.
