by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying 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. Read on to learn the key facts every visual & performing arts student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering visual & performing arts programs.
In the U.S., visual & performing arts is a popular field of study, with 153,937 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking analyzes these 2,079 schools to determine the best overall colleges for visual & performing arts students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of visual & performing arts programs later in this article.
Studies in Visual & Performing Arts develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations visual & performing arts graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a visual & performing arts program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a visual & performing arts major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several visual & performing arts degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8,919 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 21,054 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 95,619 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25,861 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,908 |
People currently working in careers related to visual & performing arts tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in visual & performing arts careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in visual & performing arts can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to visual & performing arts.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to visual & performing arts.
| 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of visual & performing arts graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,422 |
| 4 years | $37,283 |
| 5 years | $42,578 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for visual & performing arts graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers visual & performing arts grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 2,079 different visual & performing arts programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased visual & performing arts school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in visual & performing arts, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 38,798 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 37,770 |
| Music | 25,853 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 18,927 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 16,640 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | 7,225 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | 4,430 |
| Dance | 3,274 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | 941 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 67 |
| Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art | 12 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
