Best institutions to study Visual and Performing Arts
Compare 427 U.S. colleges offering Visual and Performing Arts by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 47 states.
Visual and Performing Arts programs report a median of $25,344 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 50.01 and the Graphic Designers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Visual and Performing Arts programs
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 visual and performing arts, including specializations in Digital Arts. It provides a foundation for those looking to pursue careers in the arts or further their education in related fields.
Students in the Visual and Performing Arts program will acquire essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers key knowledge areas including design principles, fine arts, and media communications, equipping students with the tools needed to create compelling artistic works.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,248 | 4 | 78% | $36,004 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Longwood University Farmville, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,812 | 21 | 61% | — | $27,250 |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI Public · Certificate degree | $34,346 | 7 | 49% | — | $25,787 |
| 4 | Siena University Loudonville, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,017 | 13 | 75% | $30,138 | $26,924 |
| 5 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,941 | 136 | 68% | — | $25,620 |
| 6 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,966 | 39 | 47% | — | $28,750 |
| 7 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,629 | 73 | 91% | — | $17,983 |
| 8 | University of Florida - Online Gainesville, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,629 | 28 | 85% | — | $17,983 |
| 9 | Champlain College Burlington, VT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $30,138 | 45 | 65% | $32,531 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Albany State University Albany, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,798 | 6 | 31% | — | $30,660 |
| 11 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,775 | 41 | 75% | — | $21,719 |
| 12 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,707 | 76 | 89% | — | $21,500 |
| 13 | Austin Community College District Austin, TX Public · Associate degree | $29,669 | 110 | 20% | — | $10,000 |
| 14 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,130 | 13 | 66% | — | $26,000 |
| 15 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,878 | 506 | 78% | — | $24,250 |
| 16 | Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,494 | 60 | 34% | $40,294 | $31,000 |
| 17 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,494 | 441 | 76% | — | $21,196 |
| 18 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,226 | 40 | 59% | — | $24,500 |
| 19 | University of Advancing Technology Tempe, AZ Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,824 | 24 | 35% | $21,175 | $29,750 |
| 20 | California State University - San Marcos San Marcos, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,741 | 85 | 55% | — | $18,750 |
| 21 | University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,684 | 10 | 55% | $20,012 | $27,000 |
| 22 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,636 | 81 | 52% | — | — |
| 23 | Northeastern University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,246 | 17 | 91% | $18,925 | — |
| 24 | Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,107 | 45 | 57% | $43,204 | — |
| 25 | Stetson University DeLand, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,913 | 13 | 62% | $21,948 | $27,000 |
| 26 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,668 | 74 | 58% | — | $26,750 |
| 27 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KY Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,343 | 38 | 71% | — | $23,522 |
| 28 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,753 | 20 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,702 | 15 | 86% | — | $24,638 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,702 | 12 | 34% | — | $24,638 |
| 31 | The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,660 | 23 | 53% | — | $22,625 |
| 32 | Pima Community College Tucson, AZ Public · Associate degree | $25,344 | 74 | 28% | — | $9,541 |
| 33 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NM Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,286 | 22 | 55% | — | $16,750 |
| 34 | Delta State University Cleveland, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,839 | 26 | 48% | — | $23,375 |
| 35 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $24,752 | 30 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 36 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $24,691 | 33 | 43% | $21,535 | $26,991 |
| 37 | Suffolk County Community College Selden, NY Public · Associate degree | $23,694 | 78 | 29% | — | — |
| 38 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,656 | 40 | 72% | — | $26,000 |
| 39 | Jackson State University Jackson, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,555 | 13 | 51% | — | $31,000 |
| 40 | University of North Carolina Asheville Asheville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,023 | 33 | 54% | — | $23,250 |
| 41 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,817 | 19 | 68% | — | $22,625 |
| 42 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,817 | 14 | 0% | — | — |
| 43 | Full Sail University Winter Park, FL Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $22,439 | 519 | 44% | $32,163 | $27,000 |
| 44 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,349 | 19 | 43% | — | $27,400 |
| 45 | SUNY at Purchase College Purchase, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,024 | 33 | 63% | — | $27,000 |
| 46 | LaGrange College Lagrange, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,824 | 4 | 47% | $19,283 | — |
| 47 | Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,558 | 123 | 66% | $44,867 | $27,000 |
| 48 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena, TX Public · Associate degree | $21,173 | 89 | 30% | — | — |
| 49 | Bennington College Bennington, VT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,809 | 17 | 71% | $27,554 | $27,000 |
| 50 | Stockton University Galloway, NJ Public · Bachelor's degree | $20,705 | 18 | 69% | — | $25,000 |
Offered across 47 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 27-1024, Graphic Designers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Visual and Performing Arts program can expect a career outlook that is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.1%. There are approximately 20,000 annual job openings in this field, with a median wage of $61,300. A typical education requirement for these careers is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Visual and Performing Arts
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 50.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 50.01 (Visual and Performing Arts, General) maps to 8 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1121 | Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 27-1011 | Art Directors |
| 27-1012 | Craft Artists |
| 27-1013 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators |
| 27-1014 | Special Effects Artists and Animators |
| 27-1019 | Artists and Related Workers, All Other |
| 27-1024 | Graphic Designersprimary |
| 27-4021 | Photographers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Visual and Performing Arts programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
- Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
- Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, and select style and size of type.
- Develop graphics and layouts for product illustrations, company logos, and Web sites.
- Create designs, concepts, and sample layouts, based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts.
- Use computer software to generate new images.
Concentrations within Visual and Performing Arts
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralCIP 50.0101
A general, undifferentiated program that focuses on the visual and performing arts and that may prepare individuals in any of the visual artistic media or performing disciplines.
- Digital ArtsCIP 50.0102
A general, undifferentiated program that focuses on the use of computerized digital images as the primary medium of expression in the visual and performing arts, and that may prepare individuals for a
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
The program offers specializations in Visual and Performing Arts, General and Digital Arts.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, communication, and design.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated 20,000 annual openings.
What is the typical education level for careers in this field?+
Most careers in Visual and Performing Arts require a Bachelor's degree.
How much do Visual and Performing Arts graduates earn?+
Visual and Performing Arts graduates report median earnings of $25,344 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Graphic Designers occupation pays about $70,560 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Visual and Performing Arts?+
Visual and Performing Arts maps to CIP 50.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card