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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the The Plains States Region

6 Colleges in the United States
309 General Visual & Performing Arts Degrees Awarded
$44,758 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 38 schools to find the best for general visual & performing arts students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Visual & Performing Arts in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general visual & performing arts education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in General Visual & Performing Arts

1

University Of St Thomas Minnesota tops our 2026 ranking of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 21 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of St Thomas Minnesota

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for general visual & performing arts. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 37 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $29,775. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,719 in student loans. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for University Of Missouri Columbia

3

University Of Nebraska Lincoln is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #3. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 23 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. General Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $49,755 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete this degree. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at University Of Nebraska Lincoln

4

Students looking for a strong general visual & performing arts program will find one at Iowa State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 19 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Iowa State University

5

Minneapolis College Of Art And Design is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general visual & performing arts, ranking #5. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design graduates 51% of students within six years. Minneapolis College Of Art And Design awarded about 12 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design earn around $69,907 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,812 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Minneapolis College Of Art And Design

6
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN

Hennepin Technical College placed #6 among the best general visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 11 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Hennepin Technical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $52,059 in their early career. Hennepin Technical College graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Hennepin Technical College

7

Wichita State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 89 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wichita State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from Wichita State University earn around $20,013 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete this degree. Read more about the general visual & performing arts program at Wichita State University

8

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri State University graduates 58% of students within six years. Southeast Missouri State University awarded about 58 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general visual & performing arts program make about $26,668 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree. Get the full general visual & performing arts details for Southeast Missouri State University

9

Missouri State University Springfield came in at #9 for general visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Missouri State University Springfield awarded about 17 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete this degree. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Missouri State University Springfield

10

Butler Community College came in at #10 for general visual & performing arts this year. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. Butler Community College awarded about 11 general visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general visual & performing arts degree recipients from Butler Community College generally make around $39,404. Students borrow a median of $16,670 to complete this degree. See the full general visual & performing arts program report for Butler Community College

11

State Fair Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best general visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 11 general visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at State Fair Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general visual & performing arts degree from State Fair Community College earn around $39,168 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from State Fair Community College

Narrow General Visual & Performing Arts Schools by State

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View All General Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >

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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 · 38 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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