Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 78 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
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.
No school ranked higher than University Of Florida this year for visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 445 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Florida earn around $27,412 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,088.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Florida
Florida State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 518 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $27,791 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,194 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Florida State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Central Florida one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,174 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,098 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,288.
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A rank of #4 makes University Of Miami one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Miami awarded about 362 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $24,496 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,648 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida Online is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Gainesville. University Of Florida Online graduates 75% of students within six years. University Of Florida Online awarded about 30 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $30,629. University Of Florida Online graduates carry a median of $17,983 in student loans.
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Nova Southeastern University landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 25 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Nova Southeastern University earn around $70,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,021.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #7 among the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 250 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,030 in their early career. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,612 in student loans.
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Florida International University placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 256 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Florida International University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,743 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,120 to complete this degree.
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Florida Atlantic University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Boca Raton. About 63% of students finish within six years. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 117 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $26,466 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $18,453 in student loans.
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Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Sanford. About 136 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Seminole State College Of Florida in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $35,284 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,613.
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Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Gulf Coast University awarded about 105 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $22,967. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $22,980 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Florida Gulf Coast University
Palm Beach State College earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Palm Beach State College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lake Worth. Palm Beach State College awarded about 46 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Palm Beach State College generally make around $32,901. Palm Beach State College graduates carry a median of $12,518 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Palm Beach State College
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Palm Beach. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 44 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn around $54,317 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,787.
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University Of North Florida earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 107 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $27,306. Students borrow a median of $22,702 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of North Florida
Valencia College placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Orlando. There were roughly 166 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Valencia College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,765 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,812 to complete this degree.
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Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Florida State College At Jacksonville awarded about 60 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Florida State College At Jacksonville
The University Of West Florida ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. The University Of West Florida awarded about 78 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,845 in their early career. The University Of West Florida graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from The University Of West Florida
Miami Dade College came in at #18 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 311 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $27,447. Typical student debt for the program is $6,500.
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Eckerd College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Saint Petersburg, Eckerd College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eckerd College awarded about 21 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,012 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,559.
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Florida Southern College placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lakeland. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Florida Southern College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Florida Southern College earn around $22,336 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Florida Southern College
Flagler College St Augustine placed #21 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 69 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Flagler College St Augustine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $25,738 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,529.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Flagler College St Augustine
Stetson University came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of DeLand, Stetson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. Stetson University awarded about 61 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stetson University generally make around $16,033. Typical student debt for the program is $26,554.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Stetson University
Jacksonville University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Jacksonville University awarded about 73 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Jacksonville University generally make around $21,842. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Rollins College came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rollins College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rollins College earn a median of $21,114 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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The University Of Tampa ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tampa. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 116 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tampa in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Tampa earn a median of $19,431 early in their careers. The University Of Tampa graduates carry a median of $25,058 in student loans.
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Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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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 · 78 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.
