Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Tennessee.
Vanderbilt University tops our 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 81 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Sewanee The University Of The South came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Sewanee. About 80% of students finish within six years. Sewanee The University Of The South awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,927 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,091 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes Rhodes College one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rhodes College awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rhodes College generally make around $40,807. Students borrow a median of $23,078 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Belmont University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 693 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $28,143. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $25,722 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 188 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Tennessee earn around $30,093 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,762.
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Tennessee Technological University earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Cookeville. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 78 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $33,285 in the first couple years of their career. Tennessee Technological University graduates carry a median of $16,185 in student loans.
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Middle Tennessee State University earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Middle Tennessee State University awarded about 461 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Middle Tennessee State University earn around $27,737 in the first couple years of their career. Middle Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $22,385 in student loans.
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Lipscomb University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Lipscomb University awarded about 126 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $19,352 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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Freed Hardeman University placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Henderson. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $54,530 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,479.
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The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga is a large public university. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 106 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga earn around $21,766 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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East Tennessee State University landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Johnson City. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 103 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of East Tennessee State University earn a median of $28,264 early in their careers. East Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $22,593 in student loans.
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Southern Adventist University earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Southern Adventist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $61,366 in their early career. Southern Adventist University graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee Martin earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Martin, The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The University Of Tennessee Martin awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Tennessee Martin earn a median of $25,660 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,625.
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University Of Memphis landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 189 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $31,596 early in their careers. University Of Memphis graduates carry a median of $24,212 in student loans.
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Maryville College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Maryville, Maryville College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Maryville College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Maryville College earn around $42,971 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,428 to complete this degree.
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Chattanooga State Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chattanooga. Chattanooga State Community College awarded about 61 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $20,165 in their early career. Chattanooga State Community College graduates carry a median of $11,681 in student loans.
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Nashville State Community College earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. There were roughly 33 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Nashville State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Nashville State Community College earn around $27,412 in the first couple years of their career. Nashville State Community College graduates carry a median of $16,745 in student loans.
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Volunteer State Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Gallatin. About 39 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Volunteer State Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $40,137 in their early career. Volunteer State Community College graduates carry a median of $12,462 in student loans.
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Pellissippi State Community College earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. Pellissippi State Community College awarded about 88 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $43,816. Students borrow a median of $8,951 to complete this degree.
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Austin Peay State University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Peay State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,968 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,694 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Austin Peay State University
Southwest Tennessee Community College came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Memphis. There were roughly 18 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $43,592. Students borrow a median of $11,406 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee State University came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,868 in their early career. Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans.
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Lee University placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 51 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lee University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $26,598. Lee University graduates carry a median of $28,646 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Lee University
Nashville Film Institute ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 38 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Nashville Film Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Nashville Film Institute earn around $22,919 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,058 to complete this degree.
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Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a small public institution. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro awarded about 11 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro generally make around $37,744. Students borrow a median of $10,723 to complete this degree.
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These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 29 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.
