Visual & Performing Arts programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 356 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 275 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year.
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A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 15 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $79,632 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Lafayette College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lafayette College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Lafayette College graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans.
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Lehigh University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Lehigh University graduates 88% of students within six years. Lehigh University awarded about 23 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Lehigh University earn around $70,321 in the first couple years of their career. Lehigh University graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans.
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Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 69 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $31,073 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,153 to complete this degree.
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Princeton University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Princeton University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete this degree.
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The College Of New Jersey earned the #7 position for visual & performing arts this year. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. About 86% of students finish within six years. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 87 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $33,214 in their early career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Villanova University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Villanova. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Villanova University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $72,601. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 252 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $42,278. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,948 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Maryland College Park
Hamilton College came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Hamilton College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Hamilton College generally make around $48,806. Hamilton College graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 122 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
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County College Of Morris earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Randolph, County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public institution. County College Of Morris awarded about 96 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from County College Of Morris earn around $33,881 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete this degree.
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Swarthmore College earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Swarthmore, Swarthmore College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. Swarthmore College awarded about 31 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Swarthmore College generally make around $66,971. Swarthmore College graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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New York University placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. New York University awarded about 1,955 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from New York University earn around $30,144 in the first couple years of their career. New York University graduates carry a median of $24,771 in student loans.
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American University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. American University awarded about 149 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from American University earn around $33,837 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,918 to complete this degree.
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University Of Pennsylvania came in at #16 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 84 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $34,619 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,359 to complete this degree.
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Dickinson College placed #17 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Dickinson College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Dickinson College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Dickinson College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Dickinson College generally make around $39,937. Dickinson College graduates carry a median of $19,014 in student loans.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 105 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $27,032. Students borrow a median of $23,327 to complete this degree.
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Towson University landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. Towson University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 222 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Towson University earn a median of $26,574 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,540 to complete this degree.
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Colgate University landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Hamilton, Colgate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Colgate University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colgate University earn a median of $52,924 early in their careers. Colgate University graduates carry a median of $16,286 in student loans.
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Barnard College came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 52 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Barnard College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Barnard College earn around $39,947 in the first couple years of their career. Barnard College graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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Rowan University came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rowan University awarded about 174 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $29,850 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,788.
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Marist College placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. About 80% of students finish within six years. Marist College awarded about 85 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Marist College earn around $30,480 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,049.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Marist College
St Marys College Of Maryland earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a small public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at St Marys College Of Maryland in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from St Marys College Of Maryland earn around $41,665 in the first couple years of their career. St Marys College Of Maryland graduates carry a median of $22,655 in student loans.
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Suny At Binghamton placed #25 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 128 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Suny At Binghamton in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Suny At Binghamton earn around $24,797 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Binghamton graduates carry a median of $21,541 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
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 · 356 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).
