by our College Data Analytics Team
[Other Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/other-visual-performing-arts/visual-and-performing-arts-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 93 schools to find the best return on investment for other visual & performing arts students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study other visual & performing arts affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Other Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Other Visual & Performing Arts Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Santa Monica College earned the #1 spot for value among other visual & performing arts schools in the United States. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
John Tyler Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $5,000. Soon after graduation, other visual & performing arts degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $18,224. That is a strong return on a $5,000 median debt.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value other visual & performing arts schools. University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Bothell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $15,636. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of $65,932 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,636 median debt. University Of Washington Bothell Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,885. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tidewater Community College earned it the #5 place for other visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $35,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Portland State University came in at #6 for value in other visual & performing arts this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. In-state tuition and fees average $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the other visual & performing arts program here. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Portland State University earn a median of $47,717 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value other visual & performing arts schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $12,184. Soon after graduation, other visual & performing arts degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $54,507. Set against $12,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Bossier Parish Community College landed the #8 spot for other visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Bossier City, Bossier Parish Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,268. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $20,593 in student loans. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bossier Parish Community College earn a median of $43,661 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,593 median debt.
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire came in at #9 for value in other visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Eau Claire, University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,642, with out-of-state students paying around $19,228. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,574 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire generally make around $49,911. Set against $22,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value other visual & performing arts schools. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Magnolia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,385 to complete the other visual & performing arts program here. Early-career other visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,723. That is a strong return on a $20,385 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value other visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $26,971. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Clemson University earned the #12 position for value in other visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $26,972. Early-career other visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Grambling State University landed the #13 spot for other visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of Grambling, Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,683, while out-of-state students pay about $16,706. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $43,500 in student loans. Early-career other visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,580. That is a strong return on a $43,500 median debt. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence University came in at #14 for value in other visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Appleton, Lawrence University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,982. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $15,699. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,789. That is a strong return on a $15,699 median debt. Lawrence University admits about 64% of applicants.
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #15 for value in other visual & performing arts this year. Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Berea. In-state tuition and fees average $39,832. Typical student debt for other visual & performing arts graduates is $27,307. Early-career other visual & performing arts graduates make about $46,668. Set against $27,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Clark University landed the #16 spot for other visual & performing arts value this year. Clark University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. In-state tuition and fees average $58,467. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,153 in student loans. Early-career other visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,257. That is a strong return on a $26,153 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Mount Holyoke College came in at #17 for value in other visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,018. Students borrow a median of $22,041 to complete the other visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, other visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mount Holyoke College generally make around $35,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Holyoke College admits about 36% of applicants.
Duke University landed the #18 spot for other visual & performing arts value this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
New York University came in at #19 for value in other visual & performing arts this year. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Other Visual & Performing Arts graduates of New York University earn a median of $31,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Other Visual & Performing Arts. See all related rankings.
This ranking is produced 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 · 93 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.