by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Visual Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/general-visual-performing-arts/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their general visual performing arts graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find where general visual performing arts graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Where you study general visual performing arts affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid General Visual Performing Arts Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its general visual performing arts graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Read more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid General Visual Performing Arts Graduates list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools send general visual performing arts graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Harvard University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid general visual performing arts graduates in the United States. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Early-career general visual performing arts graduates from Harvard University make a median of around $115,516 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in general visual performing arts will find them at Minneapolis College Of Art And Design, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, general visual performing arts degree recipients from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design typically earn about $69,907 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Central Florida one of the highest-paying schools for general visual performing arts. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. After graduating, general visual performing arts degree recipients from University Of Central Florida typically earn about $62,652 annually.
University Of California San Diego came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying general visual performing arts schools. University Of California San Diego is a public school located in the city of La Jolla. Early-career general visual performing arts graduates from University Of California San Diego make a median of around $42,918 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in general visual performing arts will find them at Regent University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. General Visual Performing Arts graduates of Regent University earn a median of about $36,357 a year early in their careers.
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California State University Los Angeles came in at #6 for general visual performing arts graduate earnings this year. California State University Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career general visual performing arts graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $22,247 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries general visual performing arts graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.