Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 2217 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Visual & Performing Arts School
The school you choose for visual & performing arts can shape your career. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts rankings. For our Best Overall Visual & Performing Arts School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best 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.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Wellesley College this year for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Wellesley College
A rank of #2 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 48 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 82 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Stanford University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 275 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 65 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Chicago
Case Western Reserve University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Case Western Reserve University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 54 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $74,459 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,106 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Case Western Reserve University
Boston College came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Boston College
Georgetown University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 15 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $79,632 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Georgetown University
San Jose State University came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 495 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for San Jose State University
Dartmouth College landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 51 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,246 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,663.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Dartmouth College
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 407 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of California Santa Barbara generally make around $25,091. Students borrow a median of $16,773 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of California Santa Barbara
Lafayette College earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. Lafayette College awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,931 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Lafayette College
Marquette University landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 83% of students finish within six years. Marquette University awarded about 29 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $60,443 early in their careers. Marquette University graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Marquette University
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 468 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,359 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $19,896 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Brandeis University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waltham. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brandeis University awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Brandeis University earn a median of $47,783 early in their careers. Brandeis University graduates carry a median of $25,653 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Brandeis University
Vanderbilt University landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 70 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Vanderbilt University
Chapman University placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. Chapman University awarded about 509 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $26,417 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,846.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Chapman University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. About 79 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,006 in their early career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,198 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 17 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $22,420 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Texas A And M University College Station
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 96 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $29,840 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,008.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Wesleyan University placed #21 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Middletown. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 104 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Wesleyan University earn around $39,764 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Wesleyan University
University Of San Diego came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of San Diego awarded about 28 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of San Diego earn around $68,281 in the first couple years of their career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for University Of San Diego
Lehigh University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 23 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $70,321 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Lehigh University
Cornell University placed #24 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Cornell University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $31,073 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,153.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Cornell University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 375 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,682 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,915 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
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 · 2217 schools evaluated.
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).
