Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their visual & performing arts programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 147 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Visual & Performing Arts in New York
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Cornell University, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. 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. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Cornell University earn around $31,073 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,153.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Cornell University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Hamilton College, which ranked #2. Hamilton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Clinton. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. 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.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Hamilton College
New York University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of 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. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,955 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at New York University 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. Typical student debt for the program is $24,771.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from New York University
Colgate University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Hamilton. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 28 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Colgate University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $52,924 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,286 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Colgate University
Barnard College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. Barnard College awarded about 52 visual & performing arts degrees 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.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Barnard College
Marist College placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 85 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Marist College 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. Marist College graduates carry a median of $26,049 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Marist College
Suny At Binghamton came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. About 82% of students finish within six years. Suny At Binghamton awarded about 128 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $24,797 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,541.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Suny At Binghamton
Fordham University placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 164 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $26,256. Typical student debt for the program is $25,529.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Fordham University
Vassar College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Vassar College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 58 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Vassar College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Vassar College earn around $20,331 in the first couple years of their career. Vassar College graduates carry a median of $19,296 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Vassar College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 56 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn around $36,191 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Fashion Institute Of Technology came in at #11 for visual & performing arts this year. Fashion Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New York. About 1,578 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Fashion Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $21,053 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,939 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Fashion Institute Of Technology
University At Buffalo earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. University At Buffalo graduates 75% of students within six years. University At Buffalo awarded about 181 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $24,806 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,580 to complete this degree.
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Ithaca College placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 231 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Ithaca College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Ithaca College earn around $21,865 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,607.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Ithaca College
Suny College At Oneonta came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 146 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Suny College At Oneonta generally make around $26,394. Students borrow a median of $23,191 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Suny College At Oneonta
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates 72% of students within six years. Rochester Institute Of Technology awarded about 367 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $33,736. Rochester Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Rochester Institute Of Technology
Syracuse University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 395 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Syracuse University earn around $30,468 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Cuny Graduate School And University Center landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Graduate School And University Center is a large public institution. There were roughly 93 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Graduate School And University Center in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Cuny Graduate School And University Center earn a median of $72,222 early in their careers. Cuny Graduate School And University Center graduates carry a median of $17,921 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Cuny Graduate School And University Center
Columbia University In The City Of New York earned the #18 position for visual & performing arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 384 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $35,310 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $26,854 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
Pratt Institute Main earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 756 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Pratt Institute Main in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Pratt Institute Main generally make around $35,991. Typical student debt for the program is $24,279.
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Cuny Hunter College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 259 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $28,931 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $9,631 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Cuny Hunter College
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College placed #21 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $64,102. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College graduates carry a median of $11,691 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College
Skidmore College came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. Skidmore College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 64 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Skidmore College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Skidmore College earn a median of $27,044 early in their careers. Skidmore College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Skidmore College
Suny Empire State College earned the #23 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Saratoga Springs, Suny Empire State College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. About 70 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Suny Empire State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $39,946 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,125.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Suny Empire State College
Daemen College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Daemen College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Daemen College earn a median of $63,542 early in their careers. Daemen College graduates carry a median of $28,358 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Daemen College
Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates 54% of students within six years. About 307 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $22,473 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,209.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Cuny Brooklyn College
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 · 147 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).
