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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Massachusetts.
Wellesley College tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Wellesley, Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. Wellesley College awarded about 28 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $48,902 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,075 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Wellesley College
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Boston College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 27 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Boston College earn around $66,132 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,101.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Boston College
Brandeis University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. Brandeis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waltham. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 35 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Brandeis University in the most recent 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.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Brandeis University
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $26,259.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Harvard University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cambridge. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. There were roughly 116 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $115,516. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Harvard University
Amherst College placed #6 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Amherst College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Amherst College earn a median of $59,271 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,398 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Amherst College
Williams College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Williamstown, Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Williams College graduates 94% of students within six years. About 46 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Williams College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Williams College earn a median of $34,560 early in their careers. Williams College graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Williams College
Emerson College landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Emerson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 613 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Emerson College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Emerson College generally make around $28,455. Typical student debt for the program is $24,872.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Emerson College
Boston University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 410 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,916 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,127 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Boston University
Northeastern University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. About 90% of students finish within six years. Northeastern University awarded about 136 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $36,357 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Northeastern University
Wentworth Institute Of Technology placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 40 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wentworth Institute Of Technology in the most recent data 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.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Wentworth Institute Of Technology
Bridgewater State University came in at #12 for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bridgewater State University awarded about 53 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Bridgewater State University earn around $29,595 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Bridgewater State University
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 197 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $26,795 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Tufts University came in at #14 for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 188 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $26,312. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Tufts University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #15 for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 117 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Lowell in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn around $36,657 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Lowell graduates carry a median of $26,283 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Endicott College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Endicott College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Endicott College earn a median of $39,271 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Endicott College
Suffolk University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 75 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Suffolk University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Suffolk University earn around $38,943 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Suffolk University
Smith College placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Northampton. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 55 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Smith College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $20,171. Smith College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Smith College
Longy School Of Music Of Bard College came in at #19 for visual & performing arts this year. Longy School Of Music Of Bard College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. There were roughly 112 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Longy School Of Music Of Bard College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $30,660 in their early career.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Longy School Of Music Of Bard College
Mount Holyoke College placed #20 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of South Hadley, Mount Holyoke College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Mount Holyoke College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mount Holyoke College earn a median of $18,420 early in their careers. Mount Holyoke College graduates carry a median of $23,447 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Mount Holyoke College
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 359 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College Of Art And Design in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Massachusetts College Of Art And Design earn around $31,410 in the first couple years of their career. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design graduates carry a median of $24,807 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Massachusetts College Of Art And Design
Wheaton College Massachusetts ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Norton, Wheaton College Massachusetts is a small private not-for-profit university. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Massachusetts in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wheaton College Massachusetts earn a median of $28,559 early in their careers. Wheaton College Massachusetts graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Wheaton College Massachusetts
Westfield State University earned the #23 position for visual & performing arts this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 31 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Westfield State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $33,440. Westfield State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Westfield State University
Fitchburg State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 39 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,191 in their early career. Fitchburg State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Fitchburg State University
Salem State University landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 47 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Salem State University earn around $26,180 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Salem State University
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong visual & performing arts education:
