Visual & Performing Arts degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
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.
Our analysis ranked Wellesley College the best school in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wellesley College generally make around $48,902. Typical student debt for the program is $11,075.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Stanford University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 42 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $100,827. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of St Thomas Minnesota, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 43 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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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. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 246 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
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University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 49 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. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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Northwestern University placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 293 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $30,404 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,822 to complete this degree.
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Case Western Reserve University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Case Western Reserve University awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Typical student debt for the program is $25,106.
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Boston College came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 27 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $66,132 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University came in at #9 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Georgetown University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $79,632 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 473 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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Dartmouth College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Dartmouth College earn around $30,246 in the first couple years of their career. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $13,663 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Barbara, University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public university. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 372 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 $25,226. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates carry a median of $16,773 in student loans.
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Lafayette College earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lafayette College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lafayette College generally make around $59,513. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans.
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Marquette University landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. Marquette University awarded about 29 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Marquette University
Duke University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $83,388 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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Brandeis University landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Brandeis University awarded about 33 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Brandeis University earn around $47,783 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,653.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 74 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $29,699 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,008 to complete this degree.
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Vanderbilt University placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 68 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data 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.
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Chapman University earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 394 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $26,651 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,846.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 337 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $29,494 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,915.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #21 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 79 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $36,006 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,198 to complete this degree.
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Harvard University placed #22 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 72 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $115,516 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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Texas A And M University College Station came in at #23 for visual & performing arts this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 16 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $64,891 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,420 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Princeton University earn around $67,532 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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Wesleyan University earned the #25 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Middletown, Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wesleyan University awarded about 99 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Students borrow a median of $16,125 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
The ranking above is published 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).
