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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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.
Leading the list is University Of Louisville, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. University Of Louisville graduates 61% of students within six years. About 132 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Louisville in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $23,454 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,315 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Louisville
University Of Kentucky is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Lexington. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of Kentucky awarded about 282 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $31,673. Students borrow a median of $24,539 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Kentucky
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Berea College, which ranked #3. Berea College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berea. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Berea College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Berea College earn a median of $20,036 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Berea College
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Thomas More College, which ranked #4. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Crestview Hills. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Thomas More College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Thomas More College earn a median of $57,440 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,608 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Thomas More College
Northern Kentucky University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northern Kentucky University awarded about 101 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,529 in their early career. Northern Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $25,588 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Northern Kentucky University
Murray State University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 60 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Murray State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,286 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,952.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Murray State University
Western Kentucky University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 161 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Western Kentucky University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $30,060 early in their careers. Western Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $24,579 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Western Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 56 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Kentucky University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,210 in their early career. Eastern Kentucky University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Eastern Kentucky University
Morehead State University placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 45 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Morehead State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Morehead State University earn around $24,424 in the first couple years of their career. Morehead State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Morehead State University
Kentucky Wesleyan College placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Kentucky Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Owensboro. Kentucky Wesleyan College graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kentucky Wesleyan College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,333 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Kentucky Wesleyan College
Hazard Community And Technical College placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Hazard. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Hazard Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Hazard Community And Technical College earn around $32,626 in the first couple years of their career. Hazard Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $12,212 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Hazard Community And Technical College
Big Sandy Community And Technical College landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. Big Sandy Community And Technical College awarded about 30 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Big Sandy Community And Technical College generally make around $33,956. Typical student debt for the program is $11,588.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Big Sandy Community And Technical College
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 34 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.
