Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Alabama.
No school ranked higher than Auburn University this year for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Auburn University awarded about 203 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $44,668. Students borrow a median of $24,435 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Auburn University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Samford University, which ranked #2. Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Birmingham. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 65 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Samford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $41,323 in their early career. Samford University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Samford University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Alabama At Huntsville, which ranked #3. University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Huntsville. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 68 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,123 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Alabama At Huntsville
The University Of Alabama came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. The University Of Alabama graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 201 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Alabama in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $31,253 early in their careers. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $25,821 in student loans.
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University Of Alabama At Birmingham came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Birmingham. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 68 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn around $29,444 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,104 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Jacksonville State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Jacksonville State University awarded about 62 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $30,878 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,439 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Jacksonville State University
Troy University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a large public institution. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Troy University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Troy University earn around $26,917 in the first couple years of their career. Troy University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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University Of North Alabama placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of North Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Florence. University Of North Alabama graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 69 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Alabama in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of North Alabama earn around $34,782 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,075.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of North Alabama
University Of Montevallo earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Montevallo. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 82 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Montevallo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Montevallo generally make around $25,150. University Of Montevallo graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville came in at #10 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 18 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of George C Wallace State Community College Hanceville earn a median of $40,017 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,146 to complete this degree.
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John C Calhoun State Community College placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Tanner, John C Calhoun State Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 45 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at John C Calhoun State Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $42,916 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,839.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for John C Calhoun State Community College
Athens State University landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Athens, Athens State University is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 12 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Athens State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Athens State University generally make around $38,006. Students borrow a median of $27,389 to complete this degree.
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James H Faulkner State Community College placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Bay Minette, James H Faulkner State Community College is a large public institution. James H Faulkner State Community College awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from James H Faulkner State Community College generally make around $52,231. Students borrow a median of $14,326 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for James H Faulkner State Community College
Auburn University At Montgomery landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Auburn University At Montgomery awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Auburn University At Montgomery generally make around $18,223. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Auburn University At Montgomery
Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus earned the #15 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Birmingham. Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $11,769 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Lawson State Community College Birmingham Campus
University Of South Alabama earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Alabama in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $24,071 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,371.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of South Alabama
Alabama State University placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Montgomery. Alabama State University graduates 30% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Alabama State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Alabama State University generally make around $17,997. Typical student debt for the program is $31,000.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Alabama State University
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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 · 17 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.
