Best colleges for Visual and Performing Arts in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
American Musical and Dramatic Academy, State University of New York at New Paltz and SUNY at Purchase College award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in New York: 43, 36 and 33 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 New York colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts and award 572 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Visual and Performing Arts program offers a comprehensive exploration of artistic expression through various mediums. This program is designed for students who are passionate about creativity and wish to develop their skills in both…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,024 | 33 | 63% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,893 | 36 | 72% | — | $21,324 |
| 3 | Siena University Loudonville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $34,017 | 13 | 75% | $30,138 | $26,924 |
| 4 | The College of Westchester White Plains Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $20,163 | 6 | 38% | $13,653 | — |
| 5 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $19,135 | 18 | 69% | — | $24,250 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suffolk County Community College Selden Public · Associate degree | $23,694 | 78 | 29% | — | — |
| 2 | CUNY Bronx Community College Bronx Public · Associate degree | $18,700 | 20 | 16% | — | — |
| 3 | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College New York Public · Associate degree | $9,376 | 23 | 25% | — | $11,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in New York
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Musical and Dramatic Academy New York Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 2 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz Public | 36 | $19,893 |
| 3 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase Public | 33 | $22,024 |
| 4 | SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 5 | Dutchess Community College Poughkeepsie Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 6 | Manhattan University Riverdale Private not-for-profit | 18 | Not reported |
| 7 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta Public | 18 | $19,135 |
| 8 | Daemen University Amherst Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
| 9 | Siena University Loudonville Private not-for-profit | 13 | $34,017 |
| 10 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland Public | 12 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 27 New York colleges offering Visual and Performing Arts
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Visual and Performing Arts programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees?+
American Musical and Dramatic Academy (43 graduates a year), State University of New York at New Paltz (36 graduates a year) and SUNY at Purchase College (33 graduates a year) award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 New York colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts.
Which Visual and Performing Arts program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, SUNY at Purchase College tops the list at $22,024. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in New York is $82,410 (median $77,340), across about 14,530 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Visual and Performing Arts program?+
The Visual and Performing Arts program offers a comprehensive exploration of artistic expression through various mediums. This program is designed for students who are passionate about creativity and wish to develop their skills in both…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Graphic Designers?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 20,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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