Best colleges for Visual and Performing Arts in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Longwood University, George Mason University and Christopher Newport University are the top bachelor's Visual and Performing Arts programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Longwood University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,812, College Scorecard. George Mason University, Liberty University and Christopher Newport University award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Virginia: 136, 74 and 40 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Virginia colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts and award 346 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 4 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 | Longwood University Farmville Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,812 | 21 | 61% | — | $27,250 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,941 | 136 | 68% | — | $25,620 |
| 3 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,656 | 40 | 72% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,130 | 13 | 66% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Virginia
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 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 136 | $31,941 |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 74 | Not reported |
| 3 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public | 40 | $23,656 |
| 4 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 21 | $34,812 |
| 5 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private not-for-profit | 13 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public | 13 | $29,130 |
| 7 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 8 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 12 | Not reported |
| 9 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 10 | Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville Public | 5 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Virginia colleges offering Visual and Performing Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 2 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave | Public | 1 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Graphic Designers (SOC 27-1024).
Top skills
What Graphic Designers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Visual and Performing Arts programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees?+
George Mason University (136 graduates a year), Liberty University (74 graduates a year) and Christopher Newport University (40 graduates a year) award the most Visual and Performing Arts degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Virginia colleges offer Visual and Performing Arts.
What is the best college for Visual and Performing Arts in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Longwood University leads among bachelor's Visual and Performing Arts programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,812, College Scorecard. George Mason University and Christopher Newport University follow. By degrees awarded, George Mason University is the largest, with 136 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Visual and Performing Arts program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Longwood University tops the list at $34,812. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Graphic Designers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Graphic Designers in Virginia is $76,670 (median $72,310), across about 4,740 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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