Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 41 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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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.
Drake University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 55 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $19,613. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Drake University
Iowa State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 290 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $36,634. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Iowa State University
Luther College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Decorah. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Luther College awarded about 41 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Luther College earn around $45,367 in the first couple years of their career. Luther College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Luther College
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 90 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $30,592. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $23,025 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Northern Iowa
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Iowa, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Iowa awarded about 338 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Iowa earn around $35,045 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Iowa
Kirkwood Community College came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $32,116 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,519.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Kirkwood Community College
Western Iowa Tech Community College earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. About 15 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Western Iowa Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,742 in their early career. Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Western Iowa Tech Community College
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. There were roughly 106 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $25,265 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,625.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Des Moines Area Community College
Iowa Central Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Fort Dodge. There were roughly 14 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Central Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,624 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,135.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Iowa Central Community College
Maharishi University Of Management came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fairfield. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 41 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Maharishi University Of Management in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Maharishi University Of Management earn a median of $32,294 early in their careers.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Maharishi University Of Management
Hawkeye Community College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Hawkeye Community College awarded about 18 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $41,902 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Hawkeye Community College
Upper Iowa University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Upper Iowa University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $31,122 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $39,780 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Upper Iowa University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 41 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.
