by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you enjoy creating something that allows you to connect to your audience, either through your voice, movement, designs, or images, consider a degree in Visual and Performing Arts.
Students who major in this field have a passion for the arts. They are creative and like to provide an audience with visual, auditory, and kinesthetic stimulation. Classes in topics such as drawing, painting, dance, sculpting, acting, foreign language, graphic design, photography and more allow students to develop and improve their skill in the arts.
You may choose to focus on either general Visual and Performing Arts or concentrate on Digital Arts.General Visual & Performing Arts was the 116th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 6,776 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking analyzes 91 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general visual & performing arts students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of visual arts programs later in this article.
Students who pursue a degree in Visual and Performing Arts typically already have a passion and talent for their artistic field. They are creative and provide innovative works or performances that are unique and thought provoking. Interpersonal and communication skills are necessary in this field because you will be required to work with other artists, gallery owners, fellow performers, and the general public. These skills will also help you in selling or marketing your work.
Many artists and other professionals in the performing arts support themselves with additional jobs while they work on their art. Dancers, singers, actors and other types of artistic occupations also vary between full and part time. Those who are lucky enough to become part of a company will work full time often with irregular hours for practices and performances.
Depending on the area you decide to go into, formal schooling may not be necessary. Some people decide to pursue only an associate's degree. However, other areas of specialization require at least a bachelor's degree. It is best to look into the career you want to pursue to ensure you are meeting all requirements.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional visual arts certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different visual arts degree levels. You can get anything from a in general visual & performing arts to the highest visual arts degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common visual arts degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to visual arts, with approximately 39.6% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to visual arts tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 34.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 16.9% |
| Some College Courses | 13.1% |
| High School Diploma | 9.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.7% |
About 55.3% of workers in careers related to visual arts obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in general visual & performing arts have received.
The education level required is different depending on the visual arts career you are seeking.
Visual and Performing Arts graduates are employed at in a variety of artistic careers. Graduates have pursued careers as artists, curators, fashion designers, producers, choreographers, musicians, and designers. Some graduates are working for companies, while others have started their own business or are self-employed.
The Visual and Performing Arts field is made up of multiple specializations. This can be a very competitive field, especially for full time positions.
Want a job when you graduate with your visual arts degree? General Visual & Performing Arts careers are expected to grow 4.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general visual & performing arts.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designers | 277,400 | 4.2% |
| Photographers | 139,000 | -5.6% |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | 137,200 | 12.0% |
| Art Directors | 95,200 | 5.4% |
| Multimedia Artists and Animators | 79,900 | 8.4% |
Recently graduated general visual & performing arts students earned an average of $25,331 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $9,376 to as high as $115,516. As you might expect, salaries for visual arts graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for general visual & performing arts graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers visual arts grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Art Directors | $104,590 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Professors | $82,560 |
| Multimedia Artists and Animators | $78,230 |
| Artists | $67,700 |
| Fine Artists | $58,370 |
With over 705 different visual arts degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased visual arts school rankings to help you with this.
General Visual & Performing Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Digital Arts | 3,565 |
| Visual & Performing Arts | 3,211 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Fine & Studio Arts | 37,604 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 36,323 |
| Music | 25,860 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 17,626 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 17,039 |
Image Credit: By Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0 under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
