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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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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 Mississippi Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 96 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $30,359 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,562.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Mississippi University For Women, which ranked #2. Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Columbus. Mississippi University For Women graduates 47% of students within six years. Mississippi University For Women awarded about 22 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Mississippi University For Women earn around $42,756 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,509.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Mississippi University For Women
Hinds Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 57 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Hinds Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,003 in their early career. Hinds Community College graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Hinds Community College
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Delta State University, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Cleveland, Delta State University is a mid-sized public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 40 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Delta State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Delta State University earn around $25,246 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,531.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Delta State University
University Of Southern Mississippi is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates 49% of students within six years. University Of Southern Mississippi awarded about 151 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,619 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Southern Mississippi
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Perkinston. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College awarded about 67 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn around $34,214 in the first couple years of their career. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Mississippi State University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Mississippi State. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Mississippi State University awarded about 37 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $24,752 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Mississippi State University
Mississippi College came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Clinton. Mississippi College graduates 59% of students within six years. Mississippi College awarded about 29 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mississippi College earn a median of $32,020 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,510 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Mississippi College
Itawamba Community College earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 35 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Itawamba Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Itawamba Community College earn a median of $40,832 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,942.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Itawamba Community College
Holmes Community College placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 17 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Holmes Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $32,145 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,191 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Holmes Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Senatobia. There were roughly 62 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Mississippi Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College earn around $35,001 in the first couple years of their career. Northwest Mississippi Community College graduates carry a median of $9,990 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Northwest Mississippi Community College
Belhaven University placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Jackson. Belhaven University graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 46 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Belhaven University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $19,269 in their early career. Belhaven University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Belhaven University
Jackson State University landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Jackson. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Jackson State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,555 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Jackson State University
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 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.
