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.
College Factual analyzed 320 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
University Of Chicago tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 65 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,854.
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A rank of #2 makes Case Western Reserve University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. About 54 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Case Western Reserve University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $74,459. Case Western Reserve University graduates carry a median of $25,106 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Case Western Reserve University
Marquette University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Marquette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Marquette University earn around $60,443 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #4 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. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 468 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $35,359 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,896.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Notre Dame is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Notre Dame. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 62 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $41,736 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,566 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Notre Dame
Northwestern University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 374 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $27,363. Typical student debt for the program is $17,822.
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University Of Dayton came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 54 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $43,609 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
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Loyola University Chicago ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 56 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. Typical student debt for the program is $22,625.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Loyola University Chicago
Purdue University Main Campus placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. Purdue University Main Campus awarded about 168 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $37,900 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,481.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Purdue University Main Campus
Illinois State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 247 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $34,768 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,735 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Illinois State University
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 536 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $29,125 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,671 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
Xavier University came in at #12 for visual & performing arts this year. Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cincinnati. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 38 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Xavier University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $55,045 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Xavier University
Kenyon College earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. Kenyon College graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kenyon College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kenyon College generally make around $23,082. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Kenyon College
Denison University earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 31 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Denison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,797 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,360.
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Lake Forest College placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. There were roughly 21 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Lake Forest College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $41,168. Typical student debt for the program is $26,661.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Lake Forest College
University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 134 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn around $40,667 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,170.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 323 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $33,360. Students borrow a median of $26,230 to complete this degree.
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Indiana University Bloomington earned the #18 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 715 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $28,481 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,758 to complete this degree.
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Butler University came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Indianapolis. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 95 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Butler University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $34,911. Typical student debt for the program is $24,236.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 295 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $26,774 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,183 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Kalamazoo College came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kalamazoo College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kalamazoo College generally make around $37,374. Students borrow a median of $26,118 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Kalamazoo College
Madison Area Technical College came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Madison. About 86 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Madison Area Technical College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $30,710 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,750.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Madison Area Technical College
Depaul University placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 593 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $24,503 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,302.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Depaul University
Michigan State University placed #24 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 426 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $36,877. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $27,185 in student loans.
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Wheaton College Illinois came in at #25 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wheaton College Illinois graduates 85% of students within six years. Wheaton College Illinois awarded about 35 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $26,114 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,086.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Wheaton College Illinois
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. 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 · 320 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).
