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2023 Most Focused Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts

462 Ranked Colleges
$33,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Visual & Performing Arts is the 116th most popular major in the country with 6,776 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , general visual & performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $25,144 and had an average of $24,433 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major” ranking looked at 462 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general visual & performing arts. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in general visual & performing arts.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for visual arts students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hussian College-Relativity Campus California. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Hussian College-Relativity Campus California is a private for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Hussian College-Relativity Campus California General Visual & Performing Arts Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Young Americans College of the Performing Arts. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Young Americans College of the Performing Arts is a private not-for-profit institution located in Corona, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Young Americans College of the Performing Arts

3
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Hussian College
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hussian College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Hussian is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 16 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hussian College General Visual & Performing Arts Report

4
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Gnomon
Hollywood, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gnomon. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Gnomon is located in Hollywood, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 29 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Gnomon

5
Otis College of Art and Design crest
Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Otis College of Art and Design. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Otis College of Art and Design is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 90 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Otis College of Art and Design

6
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Moore College of Art and Design
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Moore College of Art and Design landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Moore College of Art and Design is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 28 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Moore College

7
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Bloomfield College
Bloomfield, New Jersey

Bloomfield College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Bloomfield College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bloomfield, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Bloomfield College

8

University of Advancing Technology ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This small school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 20 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Advancing Technology

9
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Bennington College
Bennington, Vermont

Bennington College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Bennington College is a small school located in Bennington, Vermont that handed out 34 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bennington College General Visual & Performing Arts Report

10

Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. MCAD is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 13 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full MCAD General Visual & Performing Arts Report

11

Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. EAPD is a public institution located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at EAPD

12

Pacific Northwest College of Art ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This small school is located in Portland, Oregon, and it awarded 14 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Pacific Northwest College of Art General Visual & Performing Arts Report

13
Columbia College Hollywood crest
Columbia College Hollywood
Tarzana, California

Columbia College Hollywood did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Tarzana, California, and it awarded 15 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbia College Hollywood

14

Columbus College of Art and Design came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. This small school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 12 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbus College of Art and Design

15

University of North Carolina at Asheville ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Asheville, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 47 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Asheville General Visual & Performing Arts Report

16
Full Sail University crest
Full Sail University
Winter Park, Florida

Full Sail University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking, coming in at #16. Full Sail University is a large school located in Winter Park, Florida that handed out 453 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Full Sail University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

17
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Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, Virginia

With a ranking of #17, Southern Virginia University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Southern Virginia University is located in Buena Vista, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full SVU General Visual & Performing Arts Report

18
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Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, Virginia

With a ranking of #18, Sweet Briar College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Sweet Briar is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sweet Briar, Virginia. It awarded 4 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Sweet Briar College

19

Maryland Institute College of Art came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Maryland Institute College of Art is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 0 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at MICA

20
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Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
North Adams, Massachusetts

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a small public school situated in North Adams, Massachusetts. It awarded 17 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at MCLA

21
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Gallaudet University
Washington, District of Columbia

Gallaudet University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Gallaudet University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

22
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Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

Academy of Art University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Located in San Francisco, California, this medium-sized private for-profit school awarded 87 degrees to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University

23
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Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

With a ranking of #23, Christopher Newport University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. CNU is a small school located in Newport News, Virginia that handed out 42 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Christopher Newport University

24

The University of Texas at Dallas landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. This large school is located in Richardson, Texas, and it awarded 348 ’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at The University of Texas at Dallas

25

Southern Oregon University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Ashland, Oregon is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Oregon University

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Longwood University
Farmville, VA
27
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LaGrange College
Lagrange, GA
28
29
30
31
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Blackburn College
Carlinville, IL
32
SUNY Oneonta crest
SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, NY
33
34
35
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Greenville University
Greenville, IL
36
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Bennett College
Greensboro, NC
37
38
39
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Andrew College
Cuthbert, GA
40
41
42
43
44
45
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Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, FL
46
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Champlain College
Burlington, VT
47
48
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Purchase College
Purchase, NY
49
50

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau, MO
52Bronx Community CollegeBronx, NY
53SUNY Old WestburyOld Westbury, NY
54Warren Wilson CollegeSwannanoa, NC
55Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney, PA
56University of Colorado at Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO
57SUNY UlsterStone Ridge, NY
58Wilson CollegeChambersburg, PA
59Gordon State CollegeBarnesville, GA
60University of Saint Francis - Fort WayneFort Wayne, IN
61School of the Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL
62SUNY New PaltzNew Paltz, NY
63Millsaps CollegeJackson, MS
64Victor Valley CollegeVictorville, CA
65Northern Vermont UniversityJohnson, VT
RankCollegeLocation
66Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA
67University of Pittsburgh - BradfordBradford, PA
68Iowa Wesleyan UniversityMount Pleasant, IA
69Atlanta Metropolitan State CollegeAtlanta, GA
70Middlesex County CollegeEdison, NJ

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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