Best colleges for Visual and Performing Arts in Texas
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas and University of Houston-Downtown are the top bachelor's Visual and Performing Arts programs in Texas by graduate earnings. The University of Texas at Austin leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,707, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Texas at Austin and University of Houston-Downtown award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Texas: 441, 76 and 34 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 12 Texas colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts and award 827 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 3 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 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,707 | 76 | 89% | — | $21,500 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,494 | 441 | 76% | — | $21,196 |
| 3 | University of Houston-Downtown Houston Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,527 | 34 | 33% | — | — |
Top 2 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 | San Jacinto Community College Pasadena Public · Associate degree | $21,173 | 89 | 30% | — | — |
| 2 | Austin Community College District Austin Public · Associate degree | $29,669 | 110 | 20% | — | $10,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Texas
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 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson Public | 441 | $28,494 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin Public | 76 | $29,707 |
| 3 | University of Houston-Downtown Houston Public | 34 | $19,527 |
| 4 | Tarleton State University Stephenville Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 6 | Texas Tech University Lubbock Public | 17 | Not reported |
| 7 | Rice University Houston Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Texas A&M University - Kingsville Kingsville Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 9 | East Texas Baptist University Marshall Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
| 10 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock Private not-for-profit | 2 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 Texas colleges offering Visual and Performing Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Community College District | Austin | Public | 110 |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | Public | 89 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Texas
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Visual and Performing Arts programs in Texas.
Which Texas colleges award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees?+
The University of Texas at Dallas (441 graduates a year), The University of Texas at Austin (76 graduates a year) and University of Houston-Downtown (34 graduates a year) award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Texas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 12 Texas colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts.
What is the best college for Visual and Performing Arts in Texas?+
By graduate earnings, The University of Texas at Austin leads among bachelor's Visual and Performing Arts programs in Texas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $29,707, College Scorecard. The University of Texas at Dallas and University of Houston-Downtown follow. By degrees awarded, The University of Texas at Dallas is the largest, with 441 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Visual and Performing Arts program in Texas has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, The University of Texas at Austin tops the list at $29,707. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Texas?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Texas is $62,570 (median $60,150), across about 13,670 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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