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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Associate’s Degree Schools

109 Colleges in the United States
$13,948 Avg Student Debt
$41,730 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Associate's Degree Badge [Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 2217 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the United States

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools

1
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, CA

Moorpark College earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in the United States. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,075 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Miramar College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. San Diego Miramar College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3
Skyline College crest
Skyline College
San Bruno, CA

Skyline College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,702.

4

Seminole State College Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Students borrow a median of $10,667 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $31,347 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,667 median debt.

5

San Diego Mesa College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $6,999 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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6

Mt San Antonio College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,384. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

Florida State College At Jacksonville placed #7 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $2,657, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $19,139. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.

8
College Of The Canyons crest
College Of The Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA

College Of The Canyons placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

Irvine Valley College earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Irvine Valley College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $11,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $6,672. Median earnings reach $49,156 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $6,672 median debt.

10
Oxnard College crest
Oxnard College
Oxnard, CA

Oxnard College came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.

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Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, CA

Saddleback College placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12
Grossmont College crest
Grossmont College
El Cajon, CA

Grossmont College placed #12 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of El Cajon, Grossmont College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $10,628. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,309 ten years after entry.

13
El Centro College crest
El Centro College
Dallas, TX

El Centro College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,835. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $31,478. Set against $11,835 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

14

Central Piedmont Community College placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,861. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,979. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

15

Metropolitan Community College Area ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, compared with $4,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,526. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $30,311. That is a strong return on a $12,526 median debt.

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16
Santa Monica College crest
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.

17
Cerritos College crest
Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA

Cerritos College earned the #17 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.

18
Golden West College crest
Golden West College
Huntington Beach, CA

Golden West College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $21,500. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

19

Santiago Canyon College placed #19 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,164, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

20

Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #20 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,692. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $14,692 median debt.

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West Valley College crest
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA

West Valley College placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. West Valley College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga. Students from in state pay about $0 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,320. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from West Valley College generally make around $25,378. Set against $14,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

22

Pasadena City College landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,191. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pasadena City College earn a median of $38,841 early in their careers. Set against $9,191 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

23

Suffolk County Community College placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,132. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $24,851 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,132 median debt.

24

Hinds Community College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,250, compared with $7,300 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,385 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Hinds Community College earn a median of $34,003 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,385 median debt.

25
De Anza College crest
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA

De Anza College came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,571, with out-of-state students paying around $12,596. Students borrow a median of $7,271 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,596. Set against $7,271 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in visual & performing arts:

26
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA
27
St Petersburg College crest
St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL
28
Canada College crest
Canada College
Redwood City, CA
29
Moreno Valley College crest
Moreno Valley College
Moreno Valley, CA
30
31
32
Nassau Community College crest
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY
33
34
Ventura College crest
Ventura College
Ventura, CA
35
36
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA
37
Citrus College crest
Citrus College
Glendora, CA
38
Las Positas College crest
Las Positas College
Livermore, CA
39
Shasta College crest
Shasta College
Redding, CA
40
41
42
College Of Dupage crest
College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL
43
44
Cypress College crest
Cypress College
Cypress, CA
45
Chabot College crest
Chabot College
Hayward, CA
46
47
48
Harper College crest
Harper College
Palatine, IL
49
50
Diablo Valley College crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA

Other Visual & Performing Arts Degree Levels

Explore the best-value visual & performing arts schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Visual & Performing Arts
Bachelor's Degrees in Visual & Performing Arts
Master's Degrees in Visual & Performing Arts
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View All Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2217 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 109 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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