Best colleges for Visual and Performing Arts in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pellissippi State Community College, The University of Tennessee-Martin and Lipscomb University award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees and certificates in Tennessee: 29, 23 and 19 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Tennessee colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts and award 160 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 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,660 | 23 | 53% | — | $22,625 |
Colleges awarding the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Tennessee
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pellissippi State Community College Knoxville Public | 29 | Not reported |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 23 | $25,660 |
| 3 | Lipscomb University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 8 | Not reported |
| 5 | Walters State Community College Morristown Public | 6 | Not reported |
| 6 | Motlow State Community College Tullahoma Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 7 | Johnson University Knoxville Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 8 | King University Bristol Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 9 | Tennessee Wesleyan University Athens Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 10 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 5 Tennessee colleges offering Visual and Performing Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer State Community College | Gallatin | Public | 38 |
| Chattanooga State Community College | Chattanooga | Public | 18 |
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Public | 3 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Visual and Performing Arts programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees?+
Pellissippi State Community College (29 graduates a year), The University of Tennessee-Martin (23 graduates a year) and Lipscomb University (19 graduates a year) award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees and certificates in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Tennessee colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts.
Which Visual and Performing Arts program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Tennessee-Martin tops the list at $25,660. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Tennessee is $62,670 (median $57,270), across about 3,880 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.
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