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 283 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 59 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $83,388 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 81 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $77,997 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 266 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,394 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,046.
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Wake Forest University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 78 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $29,846 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,008 to complete this degree.
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University Of Richmond landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Richmond awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Richmond generally make around $53,815. Typical student debt for the program is $21,634.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 157 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $40,425 in the first couple years of their career. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $24,584 in student loans.
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College Of William And Mary came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $29,752 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from College Of William And Mary
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 165 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $40,845 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $26,234 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Florida came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 415 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Florida earn around $27,997 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,088 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #11 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 67 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $23,372 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,636 to complete this degree.
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Furman University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 41 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $36,520. Typical student debt for the program is $20,830.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. About 86% of students finish within six years. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 97 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $53,507. Students borrow a median of $22,077 to complete this degree.
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Davidson College landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 17 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Davidson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Davidson College earn around $41,505 in the first couple years of their career. Davidson College graduates carry a median of $19,906 in student loans.
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Auburn University placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 203 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $44,668. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $24,435 in student loans.
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George Mason University came in at #16 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 320 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $33,184. Typical student debt for the program is $24,951.
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Sewanee The University Of The South earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Sewanee The University Of The South awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Sewanee The University Of The South earn around $36,927 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,091 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Georgia awarded about 421 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $25,334. Typical student debt for the program is $21,608.
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Rhodes College placed #19 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 16 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Rhodes College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of $40,807 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rhodes College
High Point University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of High Point. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. High Point University awarded about 87 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Florida awarded about 1,287 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,828 in their early career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $21,288 in student loans.
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Florida State University earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 551 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,831 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,194 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Florida State University
Belmont University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 693 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $28,143. Students borrow a median of $25,722 to complete this degree.
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Clemson University earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 154 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Clemson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Clemson University earn around $46,650 in the first couple years of their career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,010 in student loans.
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Emory University came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Emory University awarded about 51 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,430 in their early career. Emory University graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
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 · 283 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).
