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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
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.
No school ranked higher than Washington University In St Louis this year for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 155 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Students borrow a median of $19,089 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Washington University In St Louis
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. About 207 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $32,017. Typical student debt for the program is $24,854.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Missouri Columbia
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Maryville University Of Saint Louis, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $39,623. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $24,621 in student loans.
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Park University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Parkville. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Park University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $46,340 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Park University
A rank of #5 makes Lindenwood University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Lindenwood University awarded about 153 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $25,083 in their early career. Lindenwood University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Lindenwood University
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 189 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $31,248 in their early career. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,979 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of Central Missouri earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Warrensburg. About 54% of students finish within six years. University Of Central Missouri awarded about 87 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $29,740. Students borrow a median of $24,329 to complete this degree.
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Truman State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 42 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Truman State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Truman State University earn around $15,998 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Missouri St Louis placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Missouri St Louis earn around $33,409 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,837.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Missouri St Louis
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Missouri State University Springfield graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 253 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $25,336 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,648.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Missouri State University Springfield
Southeast Missouri State University placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 111 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Southeast Missouri State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,273 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,179.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Southeast Missouri State University
Saint Louis Community College placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 57 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Saint Louis Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Saint Louis Community College generally make around $25,929. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Saint Louis Community College
Evangel University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Evangel University awarded about 14 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $42,039 early in their careers. Evangel University graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans.
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Missouri Southern State University placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Missouri Southern State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,309 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,241.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Missouri Southern State University
St Charles Community College came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. St Charles Community College awarded about 42 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $47,228. Students borrow a median of $12,606 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for St Charles Community College
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #16 for visual & performing arts this year. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn around $46,660 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,281.
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Webster University landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Webster University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 147 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Webster University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $16,573. Webster University graduates carry a median of $25,583 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Webster University
Kansas City Art Institute placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kansas City. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 120 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas City Art Institute in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kansas City Art Institute generally make around $24,967. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Kansas City Art Institute
Culver Stockton College earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Canton, Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Culver Stockton College graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Culver Stockton College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $38,725 in their early career. Culver Stockton College graduates carry a median of $27,252 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Culver Stockton College
Columbia College Missouri earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 43%. Columbia College Missouri awarded about 15 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Columbia College Missouri earn around $47,962 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,213.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Columbia College Missouri
Drury University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Drury University awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $37,267 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete this degree.
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Jefferson College landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Hillsboro, Jefferson College is a mid-sized public university. About 13 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Jefferson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Jefferson College earn around $47,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete this degree.
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Missouri Western State University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Missouri Western State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Saint Joseph. Missouri Western State University graduates 39% of students within six years. Missouri Western State University awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Missouri Western State University generally make around $37,200. Typical student debt for the program is $24,362.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Missouri Western State University
Stephens College came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. About 50 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Stephens College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $16,476. Stephens College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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East Central College landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. East Central College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Union. East Central College awarded about 20 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from East Central College earn around $37,925 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at East Central College
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
This ranking is produced 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 · 26 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.
