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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the Great Lakes Region

11 Colleges in the United States
506 General Visual & Performing Arts Degrees Awarded
$41,550 Avg Early-Career Salary

General Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 64 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.

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Best Schools for General Visual & Performing Arts in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general visual & performing arts education in the Great Lakes Region.

Top Schools in General Visual & Performing Arts

1

Leading the list is University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, our #1 school for general visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn around $58,659 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,530. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus

2
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

Michigan State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Michigan State University earn around $54,166 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,213 in student loans. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for Michigan State University

3

University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates 63% of students within six years. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater awarded about 42 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $28,226 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,500. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater

4

A rank of #4 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the top schools for general visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 27 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $49,736 early in their careers. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for Ohio University Main Campus

5

University Of Wisconsin Stout is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 39 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stout in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $54,235. University Of Wisconsin Stout graduates carry a median of $29,350 in student loans. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for University Of Wisconsin Stout

6

School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago landed the #6 spot for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Chicago, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago awarded about 18 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago generally make around $38,205. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago

7
Elmhurst College crest
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College came in at #7 for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 10 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Elmhurst College in the most recent year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $51,232 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,400. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Elmhurst College

8
Greenville College crest
Greenville College
Greenville, IL

Greenville College earned the #8 position for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Greenville, Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Greenville College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $36,911 in their early career. Greenville College graduates carry a median of $25,933 in student loans. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Greenville College

9

University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned the #9 position for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee graduates 53% of students within six years. About 17 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee in the most recent year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $34,346 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,787 to complete this degree. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee

10
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University came in at #10 for general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 12 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Central Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Central Michigan University earn around $50,688 in the first couple years of their career. Central Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for Central Michigan University

11

Columbus State Community College earned the #11 position for general visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. There were roughly 114 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbus State Community College in the most recent data year. Columbus State Community College graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for Columbus State Community College

12

Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #12 for general visual & performing arts this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $18,819. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Bowling Green State University Main Campus

13

University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne placed #13 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne awarded about 17 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne earn around $27,684 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne

14

University Of Wisconsin Parkside came in at #14 for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Kenosha, University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public institution. University Of Wisconsin Parkside graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Parkside in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Parkside earn around $40,365 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Parkside graduates carry a median of $24,485 in student loans. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University Of Wisconsin Parkside

15

Kent State University At Tuscarawas landed the #15 spot for general visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 4% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Tuscarawas in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Kent State University At Tuscarawas earn around $36,464 in the first couple years of their career. Kent State University At Tuscarawas graduates carry a median of $23,569 in student loans. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at Kent State University At Tuscarawas

16

Washtenaw Community College came in at #16 for general visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. About 18 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Washtenaw Community College in the most recent year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Washtenaw Community College graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Washtenaw Community College

17

Clark State Community College came in at #17 for general visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Clark State Community College awarded about 39 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Clark State Community College earn around $39,734 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,740 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Clark State Community College

Narrow General Visual & Performing Arts Schools by State

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 64 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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