Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 309 schools to find the best for visual & performing arts students.
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 82 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. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
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San Jose State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. About 495 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of California Santa Barbara came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. 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. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $25,091 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,773 to complete this degree.
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Chapman University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #4. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 509 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $26,417 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,846 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 79 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $36,006. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,198 in student loans.
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University Of San Diego earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of San Diego graduates 84% of students within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 28 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of San Diego earn a median of $68,281 early in their careers. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $23,795 in student loans.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #7 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 375 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $29,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,915.
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Pepperdine University earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 60 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Pepperdine University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Pepperdine University earn around $57,582 in the first couple years of their career. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Pepperdine University
University Of California Davis landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 431 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $30,647. Typical student debt for the program is $15,804.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of California Davis
University Of Southern California earned the #10 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 1,138 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,825 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,142.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 567 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of California Los Angeles earn around $23,266 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $19,284 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of California Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 405 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $26,737 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,460 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Loyola Marymount University
Point Loma Nazarene University earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 32 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $54,116 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Point Loma Nazarene University
University Of The Pacific earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Stockton. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 32 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $77,022 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,017.
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University Of Washington Bothell Campus landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 14 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Bothell Campus in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of $65,932 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,667.
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Sonoma State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Sonoma State University earn around $29,035 in the first couple years of their career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $19,552 in student loans.
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California State University Fullerton landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 688 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,269 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,772.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from California State University Fullerton
California State University East Bay placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 171 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $33,220. Typical student debt for the program is $16,625.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from California State University East Bay
San Francisco State University placed #19 among the best visual & performing arts schools. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 572 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,884 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,585.
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Concordia University Irvine came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $58,590 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085.
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National University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. National University awarded about 14 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $69,080 in their early career. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans.
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University Of California Berkeley earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 312 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $18,487 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,510.
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University Of California San Diego landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California San Diego awarded about 276 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $19,754 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,924.
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Scripps College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Scripps College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. Scripps College awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of California Irvine awarded about 411 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,248 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,685.
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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:
This list is compiled 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 · 309 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).
