DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 3
DEBUG: ROOT LEVEL MAJOR detected (no cip4), lowering min_relevance to 0.5
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.5, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Arts & Design Associate Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Arts & Design Associate Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Arts & Design Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Arts & Design Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Arts & Design Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Arts & Design Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 3 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.5
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 3
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 3 offers with relevance >= 0.8
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat University Of Vermont this year. Set in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, while out-of-state students pay about $45,502. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $24,497 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Community College Of Vermont one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Community College Of Vermont is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Montpelier. Students from in state pay about $6,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,640. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Community College Of Vermont generally make around $34,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vermont Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,952 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,296. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,208. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Vermont Technical College earn a median of $28,820 early in their careers. Set against $24,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Middlebury College earned it the #4 place for visual & performing arts. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Students from in state pay about $67,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,948. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Middlebury College earn a median of $54,713 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,948 median debt. Middlebury College admits about 11% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Saint Michaels College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Colchester, Saint Michaels College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,450. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,640 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $42,240. Set against $26,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
ADBLOCK #101
Bennington College came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Bennington, Bennington College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,262. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,463. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bennington College earn a median of $16,701 early in their careers. Set against $26,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bennington College admits about 44% of applicants.
Champlain College landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Champlain College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Burlington. Students from in state pay about $47,850 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,911 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Champlain College generally make around $36,505. Set against $26,911 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
[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.
