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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k)

123 Ranked Colleges
6,355 Degrees Awarded
$6,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 6,355 people earned their degree in general visual and performing arts, making the major the 116th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, general visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $25,134 and had an average of $26,019 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 123 colleges that offered a degree in general visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The visual arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k)

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Duke also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $-927 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Duke. When an average net price is negative, it usually means that the student will receive more financial aid than it costs to attend the school.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 Duke University

2
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Yale is a private not-for-profit institution located in New Haven, Connecticut. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Yale also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $3,083 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Yale University.

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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Yale

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Out of the 123 schools in the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 60 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UF, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $2,857 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Florida.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full University of Florida General Visual & Performing Arts Report

4
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

UPenn also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $1,938 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UPenn.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full University of Pennsylvania General Visual & Performing Arts Report

5
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 26 students in 2020-2021.

Rice also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $1,340 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Rice University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Rice University

6

With a ranking of #6, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Columbia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Columbia University in the City of New York is $4,699 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York General Visual & Performing Arts Report

7

Austin Community College District landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Austin Community College District is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 71 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

Austin Community College District also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend Austin Community College District is $4,907 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Austin Community College District General Visual & Performing Arts Report

8

University of Central Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. UCF is a public institution located in Orlando, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 470 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCF has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $6,256 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UCF.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at UCF

9

University of California - San Diego landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 99 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UCSD also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $11,176 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of California - San Diego.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at University of California - San Diego

10
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $3,105 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Brooklyn College.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

11
CCNY crest
The City College of New York
New York, New York

With a ranking of #11, The City College of New York did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for The City College of New York is $3,035 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CCNY General Visual & Performing Arts Report

12
Pima County Community College District crest
Pima Community College
Tucson, Arizona

Pima Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this fairly large public school handed out 46 degrees to qualified ’s visual arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $3,852 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pima County Community College District.

Full Pima Community College General Visual & Performing Arts Report

13

Queensborough Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Queensborough Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Bayside, New York. It awarded 67 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,066 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend QCC.

Full QCC General Visual & Performing Arts Report

14

California State University - Los Angeles came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend California State University - Los Angeles is $2,701 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State LA General Visual & Performing Arts Report

15

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 84 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $14,977 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

16

The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. The University of Texas at Dallas is a large public school situated in Richardson, Texas. It awarded 302 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UT Dallas not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Dallas is $12,144 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, 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 90%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at UT Dallas

17

With a ranking of #17, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 12 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $8,216 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis General Visual & Performing Arts Report

18

Suffolk County Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Suffolk County Community College is a public institution located in Selden, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 63 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,212 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Suffolk County Community College.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Suffolk County Community College

19
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, New York

Lehman College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Bronx, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual arts degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Lehman College is $3,381 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Lehman College General Visual & Performing Arts Report

20
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #20, Carnegie Mellon University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list. It costs about $13,608 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Carnegie Mellon University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

21

Iowa State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 19 ’s visual arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa State also took the #20 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $11,427 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State General Visual & Performing Arts Report

22

Borough of Manhattan Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. BMCC is located in New York, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $6,148 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend BMCC.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at BMCC

23

Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Arizona State University - Tempe is $10,628 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full ASU - Tempe General Visual & Performing Arts Report

24
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. University of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

USC also made our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $17,345 for visual arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Southern California.

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. 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 91%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at USC

25
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

With a ranking of #25, University of Kentucky did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual Arts Schools For Those Making $30-$48k list. UK is a public institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UK also took the #16 spot in our “Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,424 for Visual Arts students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Kentucky.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Kentucky General Visual & Performing Arts Report

Notes and References

References

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