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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in general visual & performing arts, no school beat University Of North Carolina At Asheville this year. Located in the city of Asheville, University Of North Carolina At Asheville is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,501, compared with $24,849 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the general visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Asheville generally make around $23,023. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in general visual & performing arts will find it at Elizabeth City State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Elizabeth City, Elizabeth City State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,536, while out-of-state students pay about $10,536. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,992 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Elizabeth City State University generally make around $28,300. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 64%.
North Carolina Central University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $42,873 early in their careers. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Salem College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general visual & performing arts schools. Salem College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $33,848. Typical student debt for general visual & performing arts graduates is $26,789. Early-career general visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[General Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
