---

2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in North Dakota

[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in North Dakota

2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in North Dakota

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools

1

Bismarck State College
Bismarck, ND

$5,247 In-State Tuition & Fees

$13,340 Avg Student Debt

$54,277 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat Bismarck State College this year. Set in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, while out-of-state students pay about $7,331. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $13,340. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $61,364. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

North Dakota State University Main Campus
Fargo, ND

$10,910 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$62,203 Median Earnings (10yr)

North Dakota State University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. Students from in state pay about $10,910 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,564. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,846. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

View All Visual & Performing Arts Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 12 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.