Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Minnesota.
Our analysis ranked Carleton College the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Carleton College graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Carleton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $45,096 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Carleton College
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 403 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $29,637 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,837 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes College Of Saint Benedict one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at College Of Saint Benedict in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of Saint Benedict generally make around $47,105. Typical student debt for the program is $26,619.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $65,183 in their early career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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St Olaf College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Northfield. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from St Olaf College earn around $25,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,540.
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Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Gustavus Adolphus College generally make around $28,601. Students borrow a median of $26,197 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Gustavus Adolphus College
Macalester College earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 21 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Macalester College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Macalester College generally make around $42,517. Typical student debt for the program is $22,147.
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Winona State University earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Winona State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Winona State University earn around $53,109 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,551.
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Alexandria Technical And Community College came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Alexandria Technical And Community College generally make around $31,830. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Dakota County Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Dakota County Technical College awarded about 43 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $50,429. Dakota County Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans.
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Augsburg College placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Augsburg College awarded about 38 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $59,409 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,319.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Augsburg College
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #12 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 90 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $33,213. Students borrow a median of $26,131 to complete this degree.
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Hennepin Technical College came in at #13 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $52,059 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,887.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates 65% of students within six years. University Of Minnesota Duluth awarded about 88 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $29,224. Typical student debt for the program is $25,111.
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Minneapolis Community And Technical College placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 149 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Minneapolis Community And Technical College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,743 in their early career. Minneapolis Community And Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,439 in student loans.
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Century College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public institution. There were roughly 108 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Century College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Century College generally make around $41,814. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Century College
Concordia University Saint Paul earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. Concordia University Saint Paul awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,384 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,026.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Concordia University Saint Paul
North Hennepin Community College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, North Hennepin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 21 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at North Hennepin Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of North Hennepin Community College earn a median of $52,492 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,241 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for North Hennepin Community College
Minnesota State Community And Technical College earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. Minnesota State Community And Technical College awarded about 15 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $42,972. Typical student debt for the program is $18,197.
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Concordia College At Moorhead placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Concordia College At Moorhead in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Concordia College At Moorhead generally make around $29,986. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Bemidji State University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bemidji State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bemidji State University generally make around $40,231. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Bemidji State University
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 38 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of $32,065 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,692.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Minnesota State University Moorhead
Normandale Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Normandale Community College awarded about 22 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Typical student debt for the program is $20,162.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Normandale Community College
Anoka Ramsey Community College earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Coon Rapids. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Anoka Ramsey Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Anoka Ramsey Community College generally make around $44,293. Students borrow a median of $22,593 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Anoka Ramsey Community College
Minneapolis College Of Art And Design landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 140 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn around $21,894 in the first couple years of their career. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $28,868 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
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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 · 27 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.
