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2026 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Alabama

10 Colleges in the United States
1,128 Visual & Performing Arts Degrees Awarded
$33,416 Avg Early-Career Salary

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.

College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts in Alabama

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.

Top Schools in Visual & Performing Arts

1

University Of Alabama At Huntsville tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Huntsville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Alabama At Huntsville earn around $35,123 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Alabama At Huntsville

2
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 188 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $43,656 early in their careers. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $24,435 in student loans. Get the full visual & performing arts details for Auburn University

3
Samford University crest
Samford University
Birmingham, AL

Samford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. Samford University awarded about 71 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Samford University earn a median of $41,323 early in their careers. Samford University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Samford University

4

Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at The University Of Alabama, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. About 73% of students finish within six years. About 210 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Alabama earn around $29,568 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from The University Of Alabama

5

University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Alabama At Birmingham awarded about 87 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $29,752 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,104. Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Alabama At Birmingham

6

Spring Hill College came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Mobile, Spring Hill College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 14 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Spring Hill College in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Spring Hill College

7

Troy University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Troy University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Troy University earn a median of $26,917 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full visual & performing arts details for Troy University

8

Jacksonville State University came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 77 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Jacksonville State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Jacksonville State University earn around $30,447 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete this degree. See the full visual & performing arts program report for Jacksonville State University

9

University Of Mobile earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Mobile is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Mobile. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mobile in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Mobile earn around $50,507 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,127 to complete this degree. Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Mobile

10

University Of North Alabama came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Florence, University Of North Alabama is a large public institution. University Of North Alabama graduates 55% of students within six years. About 66 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Alabama in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Alabama earn a median of $34,211 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,075 to complete this degree. Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of North Alabama

11

George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Hanceville. George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville awarded about 29 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville generally make around $40,017. Typical student debt for the program is $13,146. See the full visual & performing arts program report for George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville

12

University Of Montevallo ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. University Of Montevallo graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Montevallo awarded about 75 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $25,150. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Montevallo

13

John C Calhoun State Community College came in at #13 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Tanner, John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public university. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at John C Calhoun State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $42,916 in their early career. John C Calhoun State Community College graduates carry a median of $13,839 in student loans. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from John C Calhoun State Community College

14

Athens State University earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Athens. About 23 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Athens State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Athens State University generally make around $38,006. Typical student debt for the program is $27,389. Get the full visual & performing arts details for Athens State University

15

University Of South Alabama came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. University Of South Alabama graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 51 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Alabama in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,169 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,371 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of South Alabama

16

Auburn University At Montgomery earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Montgomery. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Auburn University At Montgomery in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $18,223. Typical student debt for the program is $30,000. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Auburn University At Montgomery

17

Alabama State University placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. Alabama State University awarded about 49 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Alabama State University earn a median of $17,997 early in their careers. Alabama State University graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Alabama State University

18

Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Birmingham. There were roughly 13 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus earn a median of $40,090 early in their careers. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus graduates carry a median of $11,769 in student loans. More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus

View All Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 30 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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