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 143 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
No school ranked higher than Wellesley College this year for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Wellesley College graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wellesley College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wellesley College earn a median of $48,902 early in their careers. Wellesley College graduates carry a median of $11,075 in student loans.
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Boston College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Boston College earn a median of $66,132 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,101.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Dartmouth College, which ranked #3. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $30,246 early in their careers. Dartmouth College graduates carry a median of $13,663 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Brandeis University one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Brandeis University graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Brandeis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Brandeis University generally make around $47,783. Students borrow a median of $25,653 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Wesleyan University, which ranked #5. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 104 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wesleyan University generally make around $39,764. Typical student debt for the program is $16,125.
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Worcester Polytechnic Institute landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn around $91,834 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete this degree.
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Bowdoin College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Bowdoin College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $58,938 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,658.
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Harvard University came in at #8 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. Harvard University graduates 98% of students within six years. Harvard University awarded about 116 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Harvard University earn around $115,516 in the first couple years of their career. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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Amherst College placed #9 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Amherst College graduates 94% of students within six years. Amherst College awarded about 19 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $59,271 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,398.
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Brown University placed #10 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 80 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $23,180. Typical student debt for the program is $17,300.
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Williams College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Williams College awarded about 46 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Williams College generally make around $34,560. Williams College graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans.
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Emerson College came in at #12 for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 613 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Emerson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Emerson College earn around $28,455 in the first couple years of their career. Emerson College graduates carry a median of $24,872 in student loans.
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Trinity College placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 21 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Trinity College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Trinity College earn a median of $52,927 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,667 to complete this degree.
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Colby College landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,016 to complete this degree.
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Connecticut College landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. About 82% of students finish within six years. Connecticut College awarded about 36 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,564 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of Connecticut earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 140 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Connecticut in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $27,522 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,722 to complete this degree.
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Quinnipiac University came in at #17 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Quinnipiac University graduates 76% of students within six years. About 116 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Quinnipiac University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Quinnipiac University earn around $33,487 in the first couple years of their career. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $26,554 in student loans.
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Yale University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 337 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Yale University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $22,253 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357.
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Middlebury College came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. Middlebury College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Middlebury. Middlebury College graduates 91% of students within six years. Middlebury College awarded about 26 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $54,713 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,948 to complete this degree.
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Boston University placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. Boston University awarded about 410 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,916 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $26,127 in student loans.
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Northeastern University came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 136 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Northeastern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $36,357. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Rhode Island placed #22 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Kingston. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 109 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Rhode Island in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $21,899 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,955 to complete this degree.
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University Of Vermont placed #23 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 96 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Vermont in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $24,497 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of Vermont
Wentworth Institute Of Technology earned the #24 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 40 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $50,599 in their early career. Wentworth Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Bridgewater State University placed #25 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 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. 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 · 143 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).
