Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 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 New Mexico.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus tops our 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 287 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn around $21,572 in the first couple years of their career. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,440 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Santa Fe, Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture is a small public university. Roughly 11% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 61 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture earn a median of $29,835 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Institute Of American Indian And Alaska Native Culture
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the suburb of Las Cruces. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. New Mexico State University Main Campus awarded about 92 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $21,883. Students borrow a median of $17,071 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for New Mexico State University Main Campus
Central New Mexico Community College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. There were roughly 130 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Central New Mexico Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,751 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Central New Mexico Community College
Santa Fe Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Set in the rural area of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 37 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Santa Fe Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Santa Fe Community College generally make around $51,935. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Santa Fe Community College
New Mexico State University Dona Ana came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Dona Ana is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at New Mexico State University Dona Ana in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of New Mexico State University Dona Ana earn a median of $39,399 early in their careers. New Mexico State University Dona Ana graduates carry a median of $10,284 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for New Mexico State University Dona Ana
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 18 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earn a median of $49,087 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,277 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
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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 · 7 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.