by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2,049 U.S. colleges awarded 158,270 degrees and certificates in Visual & Performing Arts. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,247 schools in its 2027 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,469 one year after completing, rising to $45,378 after four years.
If you have a passion for one of the many types of arts, consider majoring in Visual and Performing Arts. A degree in this field will help you improve your skills and prepare you for a professional career.
Students take classes in a variety of subjects depending on the major they choose. These classes include dance, singing, computer design, acting, stage management, talent management, cinematography, sculpting, and more. These classes will not only help you become a more skilled artist, but expose you to other types of art within the Visual and Performing Arts field.
Since this is a large field, students typically decide to focus on a certain areas of specialization. Those who wish to study a little bit from each field can major in General Visual and Performing Arts, while those interested in forming crafts or materials with their hands can major in Craft, Folk Art, and Artisanry. Other majors in this fields are Dance, Design and Applied Arts, Drama and Theater Arts, Film, Video, and Photographic Arts, Fine and Studio Arts, or Music. Those interested in the business side of the arts can major in Arts and Media Management.
Studying Visual & Performing Arts explores Visual And Performing Arts. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Creation And Interpretation Of Works And Performances That Use Auditory, Kinesthetic, And Visual Phenomena To Express Ideas And Emotions In Various Forms, Subject To Aesthetic Criteria.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., visual & performing arts is a popular field of study, with 158,270 degrees awarded annually. 2,049 colleges award visual & performing arts degrees, an average of 77 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 3,360.
By level, the 158,270 awards include 9,562 certificates, 22,116 associate degrees, 97,409 bachelor’s degrees, 26,621 master’s degrees and 1,864 doctorates.
Women earned 63% of visual & performing arts degrees and certificates in the latest year (99,278 of 158,270). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (77,460) and Hispanic or Latino (30,868), and international students earned 11,990.
College Factual ranks 1,247 schools in its 2027 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking, including 369 for associate degrees, 813 for bachelor’s degrees, 242 for master’s degrees and 58 for doctorates. It also ranks visual & performing arts schools within 52 states. In all, 2,049 colleges offer visual & performing arts programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common visual & performing arts credential is the bachelor’s degree: 97,409 of the 158,270 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to visual & performing arts call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Fine Arts, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Students in the Visual and Performing Arts field are extremely creative and talented. Often, they have been performing, practicing, or working in their field since youth and are pursuing an education to improve technique and skill. Those who are successful in Visual and Performing Arts are persistent, disciplined, and hard working. They have a passion for the arts and are determined to achieve their best.
While some careers require a bachelor's degree, others only need an associate's degree or experience in the field. It is best to intern or find a summer job in the career you want to pursue to learn what type of education or certification may be necessary.
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How long a visual & performing arts degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9,562 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 22,116 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 97,409 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 26,621 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,864 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to visual & performing arts, at 35.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 35.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 22.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Visual & Performing Arts, with an average median salary of $84,507; the strongest outlook belongs to Choreographers, at 14.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Instructor, Instructor, Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.
Visual and Performing Arts students hold positions in a variety of occupations including dance companies, performing arts studios, as artists, sculptors, music directors, talents agents, actors, and more. The classes you take in this field will improve your technique and prepare you for a successful career as a professional within the arts.
The occupation related to visual & performing arts with the most projected jobs is Curators, at 1,554,871.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Curators | 1,554,871 | 4.1% |
| Archivists | 1,193,221 | 1.6% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 919,494 | -1.5% |
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Gem and Diamond Workers | 797,991 | 3.9% |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | 663,221 | 0.0% |
Visual & Performing Arts graduates earn a median $27,469 one year after completing their program, $45,378 after four years and $42,563 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,469 |
| 4 years | $45,378 |
| 5 years | $42,563 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to visual & performing arts is Loss Prevention Managers, with a median salary of $165,723.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | $118,242 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Choreographers | $109,380 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $96,762 |
| Museum Technicians and Conservators | $96,273 |
| Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,169 |
Visual & Performing Arts includes 11 concentrations that together award 158,270 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Design and Applied Arts (39,906), Fine and Studio Arts (39,642) and Music (26,269). Browse the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 39,906 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 39,642 |
| Music | 26,269 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 19,222 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,328 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,856 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,713 |
| Dance | 3,317 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 964 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 46 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
