Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
College Factual analyzed 2217 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
No school ranked higher than County College Of Morris this year for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 96 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at County College Of Morris in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from County College Of Morris generally make around $33,881. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Collin County Community College District, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of McKinney, Collin County Community College District is a very large public university. There were roughly 111 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Collin County Community College District in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,456 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $6,900 to complete this degree.
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Pratt Institute Main came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 527 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $35,905 early in their careers. Pratt Institute Main graduates carry a median of $21,898 in student loans.
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Fashion Institute Of Technology is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 1,033 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Fashion Institute Of Technology earn around $15,682 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,083 to complete this degree.
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The New School is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. The New School is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 1,099 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The New School in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The New School earn around $25,435 in the first couple years of their career. The New School graduates carry a median of $24,112 in student loans.
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Rochester Institute Of Technology came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Rochester. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 367 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rochester Institute Of Technology in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Madison Area Technical College landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Madison Area Technical College awarded about 86 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $30,710. Students borrow a median of $15,750 to complete this degree.
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American Musical And Dramatic Academy earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of New York, American Musical And Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. American Musical And Dramatic Academy awarded about 307 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from American Musical And Dramatic Academy earn around $15,909 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,038.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from American Musical And Dramatic Academy
Johnson County Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 69 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Johnson County Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,030 in their early career. Johnson County Community College graduates carry a median of $13,625 in student loans.
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Bellevue College placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Bellevue College is a large public school located in the city of Bellevue. Bellevue College awarded about 23 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $45,947 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $33,660 to complete this degree.
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Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Alexandria Technical And Community College awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Alexandria Technical And Community College earn around $31,830 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
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Kirkwood Community College earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. About 27 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $32,116 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,519 to complete this degree.
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Scottsdale Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Scottsdale. There were roughly 349 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Scottsdale Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $38,676 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,187.
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Montana State University earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bozeman. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 176 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Montana State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Montana State University earn around $34,125 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,450.
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Santa Rosa Junior College came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa Junior College awarded about 113 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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New England Institute Of Technology ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of East Greenwich, New England Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. New England Institute Of Technology awarded about 49 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of New England Institute Of Technology earn a median of $26,282 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,937 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from New England Institute Of Technology
Dakota County Technical College landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Rosemount, Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Dakota County Technical College awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Dakota County Technical College earn around $50,429 in the first couple years of their career. Dakota County Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,474 in student loans.
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Fox Valley Technical College landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. There were roughly 48 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fox Valley Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $32,673. Typical student debt for the program is $16,582.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Fox Valley Technical College
College Of Dupage came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. About 61 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at College Of Dupage in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from College Of Dupage earn around $31,463 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,653.
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Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. There were roughly 17 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Forsyth Technical Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Forsyth Technical Community College generally make around $29,715. Forsyth Technical Community College graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Forsyth Technical Community College
Austin Community College District landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. There were roughly 215 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $37,688 in their early career. Austin Community College District graduates carry a median of $17,389 in student loans.
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Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded about 26 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Chippewa Valley Technical College generally make around $45,531. Typical student debt for the program is $14,234.
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Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public institution. There were roughly 706 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Glendale Community College Glendale Az generally make around $51,483. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete this degree.
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Bergen Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Paramus, Bergen Community College is a large public institution. Bergen Community College awarded about 46 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $51,280 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,720.
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Harper College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 40 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Harper College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Harper College earn around $44,523 in the first couple years of their career. Harper College graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Harper College
Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, 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).
