Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 25 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 Arizona.
Leading the list is Arizona State University, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Arizona State University awarded about 921 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Arizona State University earn around $31,217 in the first couple years of their career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $21,625 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Arizona State University
University Of Arizona came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 370 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $29,381. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $18,158 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Northern Arizona University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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
Arizona State University Skysong is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. Arizona State University Skysong awarded about 445 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $31,190 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,509.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Arizona State University Skysong
Scottsdale Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. 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. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Scottsdale Community College earn a median of $38,676 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,187.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. About 790 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete this degree.
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Grand Canyon University came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Grand Canyon University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 285 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Grand Canyon University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,208 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,708.
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Mesa Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. About 919 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Mesa Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $54,730 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,750.
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Rio Salado College came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tempe. There were roughly 268 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rio Salado College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Rio Salado College earn around $48,564 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete this degree.
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Phoenix College earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Phoenix College is a large public institution. About 487 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Phoenix College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Phoenix College earn around $51,053 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,204.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Phoenix College
Gateway Community College Phoenix landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Phoenix is a moderately-sized public institution. About 77 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Gateway Community College Phoenix in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $50,350 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,736 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Gateway Community College Phoenix
Estrella Mountain Community College earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. Estrella Mountain Community College awarded about 563 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Estrella Mountain Community College earn around $78,359 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,752 to complete this degree.
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Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public institution. Chandler Gilbert Community College awarded about 547 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Chandler Gilbert Community College
Pima Community College came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. About 119 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Pima Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $25,344 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,541 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Pima Community College
University Of Advancing Technology ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Advancing Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 27% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Advancing Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,579 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,966.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Advancing Technology
Paradise Valley Community College placed #16 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Phoenix. Paradise Valley Community College awarded about 474 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $71,136 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,204.
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Yavapai College landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Prescott. There were roughly 33 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Yavapai College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Yavapai College generally make around $52,087. Typical student debt for the program is $14,087.
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Arizona Western College landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Yuma. About 23 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Arizona Western College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $44,895 in their early career.
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Cochise College earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Sierra Vista, Cochise College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 13 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Cochise College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Cochise College earn around $40,712 in the first couple years of their career. Cochise College graduates carry a median of $12,013 in student loans.
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Central Arizona College placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. Central Arizona College awarded about 33 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,635 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Central Arizona College
Mohave Community College landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Kingman. About 123 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Mohave Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $54,785 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,766 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Arizona College landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 23 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Arizona College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Eastern Arizona College earn around $40,304 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Eastern Arizona College
Bryan University Los Angeles landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Bryan University Los Angeles is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 30 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bryan University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bryan University Los Angeles earn a median of $31,425 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,400 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Bryan University Los Angeles
South Mountain Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. South Mountain Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Phoenix. About 257 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at South Mountain Community College in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from South Mountain Community College
Sessions College For Professional Design landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Sessions College For Professional Design is a small private for-profit institution. There were roughly 43 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Sessions College For Professional Design in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $19,275 in their early career. Sessions College For Professional Design graduates carry a median of $25,199 in student loans.
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More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 25 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.
