Best Colleges for Visual and Performing Arts, General

Choosing the right Visual and Performing Arts program can significantly impact your creative career trajectory and earning potential. With 68 schools nationwide offering this interdisciplinary major, graduates typically earn around $26,361 annually in early career positions. When evaluating programs, students should prioritize schools with strong faculty-to-student ratios, comprehensive studio facilities, and active partnerships with local arts organizations. Look for curricula that balance technical skill development with critical thinking and business acumen. Access to internships, gallery spaces, and performance venues also matters greatly. The best programs prepare graduates for diverse career paths in arts education, museum work, arts administration, and freelance creative practice while building essential professional networks.

Schools Ranked

$32,978

Avg. Program Earnings

61.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Median Earnings	Graduation Rate	School Type
1	University of Florida Gainesville, Florida	$48,041	91.5%	public
2	Rice University Houston, Texas	$38,289	95.7%	private-nonprofit
3	Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, California	$38,289	60.6%	private-nonprofit
4	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin	$38,289	51.2%	public
5	George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia	$37,980	69.3%	public
6	University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	$36,674	92.0%	private-nonprofit
7	Empire State University Saratoga Springs, New York	$36,141	29.3%	public
8	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, Arizona	$34,187	67.8%	public
9	Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, Georgia	$32,925	48.1%	public
10	Worcester State University Worcester, Massachusetts	$32,925	55.5%	public
11	Long Island University Brookville, New York	$32,382	55.4%	private-nonprofit
12	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, Mississippi	$31,133	62.9%	public
13	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Madison, New Jersey	$30,771	72.3%	private-nonprofit
14	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus Teaneck, New Jersey	$30,771	61.7%	private-nonprofit
15	Rasmussen University-Florida Ocala, Florida	$30,228	51.0%	private-forprofit
16	Rasmussen University-Kansas Topeka, Kansas	$30,228	50.0%	private-forprofit
17	Rasmussen University-North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota	$30,228	57.9%	private-forprofit
18	Rasmussen University-Wisconsin Green Bay, Wisconsin	$30,228	62.5%	private-forprofit
19	Rasmussen University-Minnesota St. Cloud, Minnesota	$30,228	53.2%	private-forprofit
20	Rasmussen University-Illinois Rockford, Illinois	$30,228	40.0%	private-forprofit
21	Boston University Boston, Massachusetts	$29,685	90.0%	private-nonprofit
22	University of Houston-Downtown Houston, Texas	$29,685	33.8%	public
23	Longwood University Farmville, Virginia	$28,598	61.6%	public
24	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, Wisconsin	$28,443	64.3%	public
25	The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, Texas	$27,874	70.8%	public