Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 30 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
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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 tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 162 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $32,322 early in their careers. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $24,859 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Arkansas
Harding University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,715.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Harding University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Central Arkansas, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 125 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,469 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,495 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Central Arkansas
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Arkansas State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Arkansas State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $35,970 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,399.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. About 52 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas At Little Rock in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $30,733. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates carry a median of $25,402 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
John Brown University earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. John Brown University graduates 72% of students within six years. About 44 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at John Brown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,893 in their early career. John Brown University graduates carry a median of $20,850 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at John Brown University
Ouachita Baptist University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Ouachita Baptist University awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Ouachita Baptist University earn around $18,350 in the first couple years of their career. Ouachita Baptist University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Henderson State University placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Henderson State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkadelphia. Henderson State University graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Henderson State University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Henderson State University earn a median of $40,131 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,234.
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Northwest Arkansas Community College came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Bentonville, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a large public university. About 21 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Northwest Arkansas Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northwest Arkansas Community College earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,479.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Northwest Arkansas Community College
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of $22,016 early in their careers. 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
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff earned the #11 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public university. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff graduates 40% of students within six years. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff in the most recent 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.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff
Arkansas State University Beebe landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Beebe. Arkansas State University Beebe awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Arkansas State University Beebe generally make around $30,293. Arkansas State University Beebe graduates carry a median of $9,350 in student loans.
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Arkansas Tech University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas Tech University awarded about 50 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $20,285 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,950 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Arkansas Tech University
University Of Arkansas At Monticello placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Monticello, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public institution. University Of Arkansas At Monticello graduates 38% of students within six years. University Of Arkansas At Monticello awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Arkansas At Monticello earn around $41,278 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,611 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Arkansas At Monticello
National Park Community College came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Hot Springs. National Park Community College awarded about 30 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from National Park Community College earn around $42,458 in the first couple years of their career. National Park Community College graduates carry a median of $14,162 in student loans.
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More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
- 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.