Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 39 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.
Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. About 59 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Duke University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $83,388 in their early career. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Duke University
A rank of #2 makes Wake Forest University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $67,369 in their early career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Wake Forest University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 78 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,846 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,008.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 157 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $40,425 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,584.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Davidson College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Davidson, Davidson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Davidson College awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Davidson College earn a median of $41,505 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,906.
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High Point University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 87 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at High Point University
Elon University came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. About 84% of students finish within six years. Elon University awarded about 66 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,637 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,466.
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Appalachian State University earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. Appalachian State University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 255 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $26,251. Typical student debt for the program is $24,127.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Appalachian State University
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. About 472 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Central Piedmont Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,979 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,861.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Central Piedmont Community College
University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts is a small public school located in the city of Winston Salem. About 78% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts awarded about 297 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts earn around $22,040 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts graduates carry a median of $23,752 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of North Carolina School Of The Arts
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte graduates 69% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 177 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn around $28,361 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,227 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte
Forsyth Technical Community College placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. There were roughly 22 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $29,715 early in their careers. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Forsyth Technical Community College
East Carolina University came in at #13 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 212 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,191 in their early career. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,280 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at East Carolina University
Meredith College came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Meredith College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 66 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Meredith College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,357 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Meredith College
Wake Technical Community College earned the #15 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. Wake Technical Community College awarded about 719 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $32,153. Students borrow a median of $13,414 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Wake Technical Community College
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 190 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $34,295 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,663.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
University Of North Carolina At Asheville came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public institution. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Asheville awarded about 110 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of North Carolina At Asheville earn around $23,496 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Asheville graduates carry a median of $23,926 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of North Carolina At Asheville
Western Carolina University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 120 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Western Carolina University earn around $26,127 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,002 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Western Carolina University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 340 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $22,699 early in their careers. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $25,630 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Wayne Community College came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 56 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wayne Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Wayne Community College earn around $33,116 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Wayne Community College
Guilford Technical Community College earned the #21 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. About 59 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Guilford Technical Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $24,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,250.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Guilford Technical Community College
Winston Salem State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. Winston Salem State University awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $43,969 in their early career. Winston Salem State University graduates carry a median of $27,653 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Winston Salem State University
Cape Fear Community College placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Wilmington. Cape Fear Community College awarded about 83 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $42,889 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,388.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Cape Fear Community College
Alamance Community College placed #24 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Graham. About 75 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Alamance Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $37,585 in their early career. Alamance Community College graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Alamance Community College
Catawba Valley Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Hickory, Catawba Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Catawba Valley Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Catawba Valley Community College generally make around $38,219. Catawba Valley Community College graduates carry a median of $9,842 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Catawba Valley Community College
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 39 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.
