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.
College Factual analyzed 530 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools.
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 school for visual & performing arts. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 70 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $77,997 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 96 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,840 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,008.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #3. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 115 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $41,405 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,584 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 287 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from James Madison University earn around $33,714 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,046.
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University Of Richmond is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of University of Richmond. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Richmond awarded about 17 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. University Of Richmond graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans.
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College Of William And Mary earned the #6 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $29,752 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,935.
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Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #7 for visual & performing arts this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 178 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $40,510. Typical student debt for the program is $26,234.
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University Of Florida earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 445 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $27,412 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,088.
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Wake Forest University earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $67,369 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 61 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,372 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,636.
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Davidson College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Davidson. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Davidson College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $41,505 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,906 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Davidson College
Duke University landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The six-year graduation rate is 97%. There were roughly 49 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Duke University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Duke University earn a median of $83,388 early in their careers. Duke University graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Duke University
Emory University earned the #13 position for visual & performing arts this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 69 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Emory University earn a median of $33,430 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,000 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Emory University
University Of Georgia ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 424 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Georgia earn around $25,521 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,608 in student loans.
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George Mason University placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 325 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $32,268 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,951.
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Belmont University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 710 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Belmont University earn around $28,314 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,722 to complete this degree.
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High Point University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of High Point. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 93 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of High Point University earn a median of $113,352 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
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University Of Alabama At Huntsville ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Huntsville, University Of Alabama At Huntsville is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Alabama At Huntsville graduates 64% of students within six years. About 61 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Huntsville in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $35,123 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Furman University earned the #19 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 28 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $36,520. Typical student debt for the program is $20,830.
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Florida State University came in at #20 for visual & performing arts this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 518 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Florida State University earn around $27,791 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,194.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Florida State University
Auburn University earned the #21 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. About 82% of students finish within six years. Auburn University awarded about 188 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $43,656. Auburn University graduates carry a median of $24,435 in student loans.
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Sewanee The University Of The South earned the #22 position for visual & performing arts this year. Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sewanee. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates 80% of students within six years. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $36,927 early in their careers. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans.
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Elon University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. Elon University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 76 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Elon University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Elon University earn a median of $25,100 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,466 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Elon University
Clemson University came in at #24 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. There were roughly 129 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $46,632. Students borrow a median of $26,010 to complete this degree.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 109 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Tulane University Of Louisiana generally make around $54,082. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
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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:
This ranking is produced 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 · 530 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).
