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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 63 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $64,891. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $22,420 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 568 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $34,353. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates carry a median of $24,980 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for The University Of Texas At Austin
A rank of #3 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. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rice University awarded about 105 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,454 in their early career. Rice University graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Rice University
Southern Methodist University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dallas. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 210 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Methodist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $28,425. Southern Methodist University graduates carry a median of $20,065 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Southern Methodist University
Collin County Community College District is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 265 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Collin County Community College District in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Collin County Community College District earn a median of $33,456 early in their careers. Collin County Community College District graduates carry a median of $6,900 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Collin County Community College District
University Of Houston earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 322 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $43,621 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,921.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Houston
Texas Christian University came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 177 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Texas Christian University in the most recent 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.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Texas Christian University
The University Of Texas At Dallas earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Richardson, The University Of Texas At Dallas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. The University Of Texas At Dallas awarded about 447 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Texas At Dallas earn a median of $28,494 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,434 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for The University Of Texas At Dallas
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 619 visual & performing arts degrees 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 placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 857 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of North Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,190 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,119 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of North Texas
Baylor University earned the #11 position for visual & performing arts this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 207 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Baylor University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $14,937 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,166.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Baylor University
Austin Community College District earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $17,389.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Austin Community College District
Texas Womans University earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 133 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Womans University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $38,873. Texas Womans University graduates carry a median of $25,811 in student loans.
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Dallas Baptist University came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Dallas Baptist University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent data 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.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Dallas Baptist University
West Texas A And M University came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 88 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at West Texas A And M University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $44,601. Students borrow a median of $24,035 to complete this degree.
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Texas Tech University came in at #16 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. Texas Tech University awarded about 289 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Texas Tech University earn a median of $37,378 early in their careers. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $27,550 in student loans.
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Abilene Christian University landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Abilene. Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of students within six years. Abilene Christian University awarded about 46 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Abilene Christian University earn around $38,553 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Abilene Christian University
The University Of Texas At Arlington came in at #18 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 238 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Arlington in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Texas At Arlington earn around $29,794 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,829.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 58 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Houston Clear Lake in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Houston Clear Lake generally make around $25,274. University Of Houston Clear Lake graduates carry a median of $21,369 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Houston Clear Lake
Stephen F Austin State University placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Stephen F Austin State University awarded about 236 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stephen F Austin State University generally make around $40,162. Stephen F Austin State University graduates carry a median of $26,568 in student loans.
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Tarleton State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Stephenville. Tarleton State University graduates 48% of students within six years. About 55 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Tarleton State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,259 in their early career. Tarleton State University graduates carry a median of $24,626 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Tarleton State University
Sam Houston State University landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 206 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Sam Houston State University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $47,345 early in their careers. Sam Houston State University graduates carry a median of $27,845 in student loans.
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Lone Star College System placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of The Woodlands. About 86 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lone Star College System in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $39,954 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,425.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Lone Star College System
The University Of Texas At San Antonio came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. The University Of Texas At San Antonio awarded about 169 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,308 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,098.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for The University Of Texas At San Antonio
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Texas Pan American awarded about 213 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $35,429. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $18,948 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from The University Of Texas Pan American
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
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. 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 · 63 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.
