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 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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.
University Of Arkansas is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 157 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $32,393 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $24,859 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Arkansas
Harding University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 37 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Harding University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $35,582. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Arkansas came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 122 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $34,518. Typical student debt for the program is $27,495.
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Arkansas State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas State University Main Campus awarded about 45 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,970 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,399.
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John Brown University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Siloam Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 35 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at John Brown University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of John Brown University earn a median of $24,893 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,850 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas At Little Rock placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. About 49 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,733 in their early career. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates carry a median of $25,402 in student loans.
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Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 45 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Northwest Arkansas Community College earn around $40,671 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,479 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Fort Smith, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public university. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates 38% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas Fort Smith in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith earn around $39,204 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,333.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Ouachita Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Arkadelphia. Ouachita Baptist University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Ouachita Baptist University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ouachita Baptist University earn a median of $18,350 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Ouachita Baptist University
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Magnolia. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates 44% of students within six years. About 27 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn around $22,016 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,559 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Arkansas Tech University came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Arkansas Tech University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 75 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Arkansas Tech University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $20,285 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,950 to complete this degree.
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Arkansas State University Beebe came in at #12 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Beebe, Arkansas State University Beebe is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Arkansas State University Beebe in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,293 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,350.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Arkansas State University Beebe
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Pine Bluff. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earn a median of $35,490 early in their careers. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff graduates carry a median of $26,267 in student loans.
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National Park Community College placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. National Park Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hot Springs. About 33 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at National Park Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from National Park Community College generally make around $42,458. Typical student debt for the program is $14,162.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 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.