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.
College Factual analyzed 38 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in South Carolina.
No school ranked higher than Furman University this year for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Furman University awarded about 28 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $36,520. Furman University graduates carry a median of $20,830 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Furman University
Clemson University 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 suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 129 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Clemson University earn around $46,632 in the first couple years of their career. Clemson University graduates carry a median of $26,010 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Clemson University
University Of South Carolina Columbia is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 271 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $34,964 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,935 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of South Carolina Columbia
A rank of #4 makes College Of Charleston one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. College Of Charleston awarded about 146 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,280 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,620 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for College Of Charleston
A rank of #5 makes University Of South Carolina Upstate one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Upstate in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Upstate generally make around $35,203. University Of South Carolina Upstate graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of South Carolina Upstate
Anderson University Sc ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Anderson University Sc awarded about 66 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Anderson University Sc earn a median of $25,629 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,223.
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Tri County Technical College earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Pendleton. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Tri County Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tri County Technical College generally make around $43,438. Students borrow a median of $15,787 to complete this degree.
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Francis Marion University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 25 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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Winthrop University landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Rock Hill, Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 115 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Winthrop University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $25,433. Typical student debt for the program is $27,974.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Winthrop University
University Of South Carolina Beaufort came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Bluffton. About 34% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 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.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of South Carolina Beaufort
Converse College placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Converse College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spartanburg. About 62% of students finish within six years. Converse College awarded about 41 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Converse College earn a median of $38,940 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,715.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Converse College
Spartanburg Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 25 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Spartanburg Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $41,598 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,148.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Spartanburg Community College
Trident Technical College came in at #13 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Trident Technical College awarded about 93 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $50,166 in their early career. Trident Technical College graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Trident Technical College
Horry Georgetown Technical College earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Conway. There were roughly 36 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Horry Georgetown Technical College in the most recent data 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. Typical student debt for the program is $17,500.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Horry Georgetown Technical College
Coastal Carolina University came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 98 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $21,762. Coastal Carolina University graduates carry a median of $26,133 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Coastal Carolina University
Lander University landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 27 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lander University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lander University generally make around $21,605. Lander University graduates carry a median of $26,937 in student loans.
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University Of South Carolina Aiken earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a mid-sized public university. About 40% of students finish within six years. University Of South Carolina Aiken awarded about 19 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Carolina Aiken earn a median of $19,963 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,567 to complete this degree.
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Piedmont Technical College landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. About 12 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Piedmont Technical College in the most recent 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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Charleston Southern University came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Charleston Southern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Charleston Southern University graduates 47% of students within six years. Charleston Southern University awarded about 19 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. Charleston Southern University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Bob Jones University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 56 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bob Jones University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $36,424. Bob Jones University graduates carry a median of $15,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Bob Jones University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 38 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.
