New York · Visual and Performing Arts

Best colleges for Visual and Performing Arts in New York

Ranked by graduate earnings

New York University, Columbia University and Cornell University award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees and certificates in New York: 325, 107 and 7 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 New York colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts and award 450 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Visual and Performing Arts program encompasses a broad range of artistic disciplines, providing students with the opportunity to explore various forms of visual and performing arts. This program is designed for individuals passionate…

Institutions
5
offering CIP 50.99
States offered
28
with a program page
Degrees / yr
450
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$28,990
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,451
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
84%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$128,810
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top institution, 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1New York University
New York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$28,99032588%$29,023$25,000

Colleges awarding the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in New York

Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1New York University
New York Private not-for-profit
325$28,990
2Columbia University
New York Private not-for-profit
107Not reported
3Cornell University
Ithaca Private not-for-profit
7Not reported
4University of Rochester
Rochester Private not-for-profit
6Not reported
5Russell Sage College
Troy Private not-for-profit
5Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1121).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.7%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~9,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$80,190
typically Master's degree

Top skills

SpeakingLearning StrategiesActive LearningActive ListeningReading ComprehensionWriting

What Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn in New York

Jobs in New York
14,920
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$128,810
median $98,850
Best-paying metro
$135,980
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

Related careers

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$128,810 avg · 14,920 jobs

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?+

New York University (325 graduates a year), Columbia University (107 graduates a year) and Cornell University (7 graduates a year) award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees and certificates in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 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, New York University tops the list at $28,990. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary earn in New York?+

The average annual wage for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary in New York is $128,810 (median $98,850), across about 14,920 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Visual and Performing Arts program?+

The Visual and Performing Arts program encompasses a broad range of artistic disciplines, providing students with the opportunity to explore various forms of visual and performing arts. This program is designed for individuals passionate…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, learning strategies, active learning, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary?+

The national job outlook is about +1.7% growth with around 9,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master'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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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