Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2027 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.
No school ranked higher than Furman University this year for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 41 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,520 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,830 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Furman University
A rank of #2 makes Clemson University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 154 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $46,650 in their early career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,010 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of South Carolina Columbia one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. About 79% of students finish within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 316 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $35,093. Typical student debt for the program is $26,935.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of South Carolina Columbia
College Of Charleston is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. College Of Charleston awarded about 151 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from College Of Charleston earn around $23,328 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,620 to complete this degree.
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Anderson University Sc is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 74 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Anderson University Sc in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $28,239. Anderson University Sc graduates carry a median of $26,223 in student loans.
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University Of South Carolina Upstate earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, University Of South Carolina Upstate is a moderately-sized public university. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Upstate in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Upstate earn a median of $35,203 early in their careers. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
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Tri County Technical College earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Tri County Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Pendleton. There were roughly 18 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Tri County Technical College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Tri County Technical College earn a median of $43,438 early in their careers. Tri County Technical College graduates carry a median of $15,787 in student loans.
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Winthrop University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rock Hill. Winthrop University graduates 57% of students within six years. About 102 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Winthrop University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,279 in their early career. Winthrop University graduates carry a median of $27,974 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Winthrop University
Horry Georgetown Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Conway. About 32 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Horry Georgetown Technical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Horry Georgetown Technical College earn around $22,024 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Horry Georgetown Technical College
Trident Technical College placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. There were roughly 98 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Trident Technical College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Trident Technical College earn around $50,166 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,116 to complete this degree.
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Converse College came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Spartanburg. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Converse College awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Converse College generally make around $38,940. Typical student debt for the program is $26,715.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Converse College
University Of South Carolina Beaufort placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Bluffton, University Of South Carolina Beaufort is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. There were roughly 11 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Beaufort in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Beaufort earn a median of $38,254 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,971.
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Greenville Technical College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Greenville, Greenville Technical College is a large public university. About 15 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Greenville Technical College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Greenville Technical College earn a median of $42,177 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,411.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Greenville Technical College
Spartanburg Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 21 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Spartanburg Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $41,598. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Spartanburg Community College
Coastal Carolina University earned the #15 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,674 in their early career. Coastal Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,133 in student loans.
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Midlands Technical College earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 12 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Midlands Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,610 in their early career. Midlands Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans.
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Lander University earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Greenwood, Lander University is a mid-sized public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Lander University awarded about 30 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,605 in their early career. Lander University graduates carry a median of $26,937 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Lander University
York Technical College earned the #18 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rock Hill. There were roughly 27 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at York Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $37,626 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,907 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from York Technical College
Piedmont Technical College placed #19 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. There were roughly 16 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Piedmont Technical College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Piedmont Technical College earn a median of $36,577 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,652 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Carolina Aiken ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a moderately-sized public university. About 40% of students finish within six years. About 16 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Aiken in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Aiken generally make around $19,963. Students borrow a median of $23,567 to complete this degree.
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Charleston Southern University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Charleston Southern University awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Charleston Southern University generally make around $46,288. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Francis Marion University earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Florence. Francis Marion University graduates 43% of students within six years. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Francis Marion University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $41,456 in their early career. Francis Marion University graduates carry a median of $30,577 in student loans.
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Bob Jones University earned the #23 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 55 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bob Jones University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,424 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Bob Jones 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 · 23 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.
