Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 28 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Virginia.
Leading the list is James Madison University, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. James Madison University awarded about 266 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,394 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,046 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from James Madison University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Richmond one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Richmond awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $53,815 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Richmond
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $29,752 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for College Of William And Mary
A rank of #4 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $40,845. Students borrow a median of $26,234 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 67 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,372 in their early career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,636 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of Virginia Main Campus
George Mason University earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 320 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,184 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,951 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at George Mason University
Bridgewater College placed #7 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bridgewater College awarded about 25 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $38,344 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,423 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Bridgewater College
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 702 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,441 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,079 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Virginia Commonwealth University
University Of Mary Washington landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Fredericksburg. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mary Washington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Mary Washington earn around $24,073 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Mary Washington graduates carry a median of $23,314 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Mary Washington
Lynchburg College came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lynchburg College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $107,159 in their early career.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Lynchburg College
Old Dominion University placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 91 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,535 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,355.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Old Dominion University
Longwood University landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Longwood University awarded about 29 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $35,536 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,688 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Longwood University
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 238 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $33,232 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,250.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Northern Virginia Community College
Liberty University came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. Liberty University awarded about 627 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,706 in their early career. Liberty University graduates carry a median of $26,487 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Liberty University
Radford University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Radford. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 105 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Radford University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Radford University earn around $29,691 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,395.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Radford University
Christopher Newport University landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Christopher Newport University awarded about 47 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,656 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Christopher Newport University
Marymount University came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Marymount University earn around $44,175 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Marymount University
Virginia Western Community College landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 11 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Virginia Western Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $31,440 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,715.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Virginia Western Community College
Tidewater Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 138 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Tidewater Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $22,935. Tidewater Community College graduates carry a median of $10,195 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Tidewater Community College
Shenandoah University placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Shenandoah University awarded about 177 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $17,818. Shenandoah University graduates carry a median of $25,943 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Shenandoah University
John Tyler Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. John Tyler Community College awarded about 62 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $18,224 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from John Tyler Community College
Germanna Community College came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Germanna Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Locust Grove. Germanna Community College awarded about 15 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Germanna Community College earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,999.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Germanna Community College
Regent University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Regent University awarded about 60 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $43,417 in their early career. Regent University graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Regent University
Norfolk State University came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 44 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Norfolk State University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Norfolk State University earn a median of $54,971 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Norfolk State University
Virginia State University landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. There were roughly 27 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Virginia State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. Virginia State University graduates carry a median of $29,010 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Virginia State University
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
View All Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 28 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.
