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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall visual & performing arts education in Tennessee.
Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in visual & performing arts. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vanderbilt University awarded about 70 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $77,997. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Vanderbilt University
Belmont University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belmont University awarded about 710 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Belmont University generally make around $28,314. Belmont University graduates carry a median of $25,722 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Belmont University
Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at Sewanee The University Of The South, which ranked #3. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Sewanee. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 19 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Sewanee The University Of The South in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Sewanee The University Of The South earn around $36,927 in the first couple years of their career. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Sewanee The University Of The South
Middle Tennessee State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public institution. Middle Tennessee State University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 608 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Middle Tennessee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $27,700. Students borrow a median of $22,385 to complete this degree.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Middle Tennessee State University
The University Of Tennessee is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #5. The University Of Tennessee is a very large public school located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 173 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $30,244 early in their careers. The University Of Tennessee graduates carry a median of $24,762 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at The University Of Tennessee
Tennessee Technological University came in at #6 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Cookeville, Tennessee Technological University is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Tennessee Technological University awarded about 69 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Tennessee Technological University earn around $31,608 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,185 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Tennessee Technological University
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 22 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Trevecca Nazarene University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $52,004 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,962.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Trevecca Nazarene University
Lipscomb University placed #8 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 117 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $19,352 early in their careers. Lipscomb University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Lipscomb University
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates 50% of students within six years. About 100 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga generally make around $25,536. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
The University Of Tennessee Martin came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. The University Of Tennessee Martin is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Martin. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 31 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Martin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from The University Of Tennessee Martin earn around $25,660 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Tennessee Martin graduates carry a median of $22,625 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for The University Of Tennessee Martin
Cumberland University earned the #11 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Lebanon, Cumberland University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 42%. Cumberland University awarded about 13 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $47,696 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,902.
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Freed Hardeman University earned the #12 position for visual & performing arts this year. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Freed Hardeman University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 45 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Freed Hardeman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $54,530 in their early career. Freed Hardeman University graduates carry a median of $24,479 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Freed Hardeman University
East Tennessee State University came in at #13 for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Johnson City, East Tennessee State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. There were roughly 101 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at East Tennessee State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from East Tennessee State University generally make around $26,678. Typical student debt for the program is $22,593.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for East Tennessee State University
Southern Adventist University placed #14 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Collegedale. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Southern Adventist University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Southern Adventist University
Union University placed #15 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Union University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 25 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Union University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Union University earn a median of $68,508 early in their careers. Union University graduates carry a median of $28,605 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Union University
University Of Memphis landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 182 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Memphis in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from University Of Memphis earn around $31,901 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,212 to complete this degree.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for University Of Memphis
Chattanooga State Community College earned the #17 position for visual & performing arts this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. There were roughly 47 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Chattanooga State Community College in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $20,165 early in their careers. Chattanooga State Community College graduates carry a median of $11,681 in student loans.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Chattanooga State Community College
Volunteer State Community College placed #18 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Volunteer State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Gallatin. Volunteer State Community College awarded about 42 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Volunteer State Community College earn a median of $40,137 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,462 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Volunteer State Community College
Austin Peay State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 85 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Austin Peay State University earn around $27,175 in the first couple years of their career. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $28,694 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Austin Peay State University
Pellissippi State Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. There were roughly 53 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Pellissippi State Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Pellissippi State Community College earn around $43,816 in the first couple years of their career. Pellissippi State Community College graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans.
See the full visual & performing arts program report for Pellissippi State Community College
Tennessee State University came in at #21 for visual & performing arts this year. Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tennessee State University awarded about 20 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $23,868 in their early career. Tennessee State University graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Tennessee State University
Lee University came in at #22 for visual & performing arts this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Lee University graduates 63% of students within six years. Lee University awarded about 57 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Lee University earn a median of $26,598 early in their careers. Lee University graduates carry a median of $28,646 in student loans.
Read more about the visual & performing arts program at Lee University
Southwest Tennessee Community College earned the #23 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Memphis, Southwest Tennessee Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 14 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Southwest Tennessee Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southwest Tennessee Community College generally make around $43,592. Students borrow a median of $11,406 to complete this degree.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Southwest Tennessee Community College
Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 44 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville earn around $17,881 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
Get the full visual & performing arts details for Sae Institute Of Technology Nashville
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. This small public university is located in the rural area of Dickson. About 11 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson earn a median of $35,697 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in visual & performing arts from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts ranking:
