Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 123 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in the Southwest Region.
Our analysis ranked Texas A And M University College Station the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 19 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,420 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 568 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $34,353 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,980.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from The University Of Texas At Austin
Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 184 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $35,028. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Oklahoma State University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes Rice University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Rice University awarded about 105 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $30,454. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Rice University
Southern Methodist University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Southern Methodist University graduates 84% of students within six years. Southern Methodist University awarded about 210 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $28,425. Typical student debt for the program is $20,065.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Southern Methodist University
Arizona State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arizona State University awarded about 921 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $31,217 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,625.
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Collin County Community College District earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public institution. Collin County Community College District awarded about 265 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,456 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $6,900.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Collin County Community College District
University Of Houston ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Houston. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 322 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Houston in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $43,621 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,921 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Houston
Texas Christian University placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 177 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Christian University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Texas Christian University earn a median of $21,221 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,533.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Texas Christian University
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Richardson. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. About 447 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Dallas in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Texas At Dallas earn around $28,494 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,434.
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Texas State University San Marcos came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 619 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $34,692 early in their careers. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $25,309 in student loans.
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University Of North Texas landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. University Of North Texas graduates 61% of students within six years. There were roughly 857 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Texas in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $32,190 early in their careers. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of North Texas
University Of Arizona landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 370 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Arizona earn around $29,381 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,158.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Arizona
Northern Arizona University placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 182 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northern Arizona University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $30,422 early in their careers. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $20,751 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Northern Arizona University
University Of Tulsa landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Tulsa in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Tulsa earn a median of $32,253 early in their careers. University Of Tulsa graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Tulsa
Baylor University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 207 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Baylor University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Baylor University earn around $14,937 in the first couple years of their career. Baylor University graduates carry a median of $26,166 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Baylor University
Austin Community College District ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. There were roughly 576 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Austin Community College District earn around $36,091 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,389 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Austin Community College District
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 305 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $24,606 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Scottsdale. There were roughly 445 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $31,190. Students borrow a median of $22,509 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Arizona State University Skysong
Texas Womans University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Texas Womans University graduates 49% of students within six years. Texas Womans University awarded about 133 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $38,873 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,811 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Texas Womans University
Dallas Baptist University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Dallas Baptist University earn around $34,291 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,781 to complete this degree.
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Scottsdale Community College came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Community College is a large public university. About 474 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $38,676 in their early career. Scottsdale Community College graduates carry a median of $11,187 in student loans.
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West Texas A And M University placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 88 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at West Texas A And M University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $44,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,035.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from West Texas A And M University
Texas Tech University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 289 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $37,378. Typical student debt for the program is $27,550.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Texas Tech University
Abilene Christian University placed #25 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of students within six years. About 46 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Abilene Christian University earn a median of $38,553 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Abilene Christian University
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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 · 123 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.
