Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. 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 4 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.
No school ranked higher than Augustana College South Dakota this year for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Augustana College South Dakota graduates 73% of students within six years. Augustana College South Dakota awarded about 16 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $50,088. Typical student debt for the program is $26,217.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Augustana College South Dakota
South Dakota State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $35,944 early in their careers. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at South Dakota State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of South Dakota one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This large public university is located in the town of Vermillion. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. About 40 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $42,062 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of South Dakota
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Black Hills State University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Spearfish. Black Hills State University graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Black Hills State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Black Hills State University generally make around $31,022. Students borrow a median of $26,820 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Black Hills State University
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 · 4 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.
