Visual & Performing Arts is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 222 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota tops our 2026 ranking of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 48 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $65,183 in their early career. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
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Carleton College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in visual & performing arts, ranking #2. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Carleton College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Carleton College earn around $45,096 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,566 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong visual & performing arts program will find one at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 209 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $32,013 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,854.
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A rank of #4 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the top schools for visual & performing arts. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. About 144 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Washington University In St Louis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $33,615. Washington University In St Louis graduates carry a median of $19,089 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 354 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $29,389. Students borrow a median of $21,837 to complete this degree.
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College Of Saint Benedict landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts this year. College Of Saint Benedict is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Joseph. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 16 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at College Of Saint Benedict in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of College Of Saint Benedict earn a median of $47,105 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,619 to complete this degree.
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St Olaf College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 62 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at St Olaf College in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $25,355 in their early career. St Olaf College graduates carry a median of $23,540 in student loans.
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Macalester College earned the #8 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Macalester College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 87% of students finish within six years. About 30 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Macalester College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Macalester College earn around $42,517 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,147 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #9 position for visual & performing arts this year. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kearney. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 63 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of $47,980 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,101 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #10 for visual & performing arts this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Nebraska Lincoln awarded about 186 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $40,859 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,460 to complete this degree.
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Drake University placed #11 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. Drake University awarded about 55 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $19,613. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
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Fort Hays State University placed #12 among the best visual & performing arts schools. This large public university is located in the town of Hays. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Fort Hays State University in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $31,909 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,937 to complete this degree.
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Winona State University placed #13 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Winona State University awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Winona State University earn around $53,109 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,551.
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Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #14 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. Gustavus Adolphus College graduates 77% of students within six years. About 36 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College earn around $28,601 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,197 to complete this degree.
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Park University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Park University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Parkville. Park University graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Park University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $46,340 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University earned the #16 position for visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 290 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $36,634 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Luther College landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Decorah. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Luther College awarded about 41 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Luther College earn a median of $45,367 early in their careers. Luther College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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South Dakota State University landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts this year. This large public university is located in the town of Brookings. About 62% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 80 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $35,944 early in their careers. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $39,623. Typical student debt for the program is $24,621.
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Hastings College earned the #20 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Hastings, Hastings College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. Hastings College awarded about 24 visual & performing arts degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $42,417 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,125.
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Alexandria Technical And Community College earned the #21 position for visual & performing arts this year. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 24 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Alexandria Technical And Community College earn a median of $31,830 early in their careers. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
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Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #22 among the best visual & performing arts schools. Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Dunwoody College Of Technology in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $40,302. Typical student debt for the program is $18,973.
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Johnson County Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. About 123 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Johnson County Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their visual & performing arts degree from Johnson County Community College earn around $32,030 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,625.
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Kansas State University landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 85 visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $31,602. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Washburn University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best visual & performing arts schools. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Washburn University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 20 visual & performing arts degrees were awarded at Washburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the visual & performing arts program make about $50,955 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,175 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools also placed among the best for visual & performing arts this year:
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 · 222 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).
