College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts

42 Ranked Colleges
365 Degrees Awarded
$39,171 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Master’s 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 365 general visual & performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major” ranking, we looked at 42 colleges that offer a degree in general visual & performing arts. That schools that top this list have a program in general visual & performing arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Visual Arts Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree visual arts students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts

1

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Minneapolis College of Art and Design landed the #1 spot on the list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s visual arts degrees to 13 students in 2021-2022.

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 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 MCAD

2

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbus College of Art and Design landed the #2 spot on the list. CCAD is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, 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 more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Columbus College of Art and Design

3
Wilson crest
Wilson College
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Out of the 42 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Wilson College landed the #3 spot on the list. Wilson College is a small school located in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania that handed out 14 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

4
Academy of Art University crest
Academy of Art University
San Francisco, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Academy of Art University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Academy of Art University is a medium-sized private for-profit school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 41 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Academy of Art University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

6

University of Central Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. UCF is located in Orlando, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 78 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UCF

7
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking, coming in at #7. Harvard is a large school located in Cambridge, Massachusetts that handed out 54 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. 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 7 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 Harvard

8
UM crest
The University of Montana
Missoula, Montana

The University of Montana ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Located in Missoula, Montana, this medium-sized public school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

9
Purchase College crest
Purchase College
Purchase, New York

Purchase College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Purchase College is a small public school situated in Purchase, New York. It awarded 7 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

10
SUNY Brockport crest
The College at Brockport
Brockport, New York

The College at Brockport ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. The College at Brockport is located in Brockport, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at SUNY Brockport

11

California State University - Los Angeles landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Cal State LA is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Cal State LA

12
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

With a ranking of #12, Regent University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. This fairly large school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Regent University

13
C of C crest
College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

College of Charleston came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Located in Charleston, South Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified masters’s visual arts students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

Full C of C General Visual & Performing Arts Report

14

With a ranking of #14, The University of Texas at Dallas did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public institution located in Richardson, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at UT Dallas

15

The City College of New York came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. CCNY is a fairly large school located in New York, New York that handed out 9 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at The City College of New York

16
Norfolk State crest
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk State University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Norfolk State University is located in Norfolk, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Norfolk State University

17

University of California - San Diego came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. UCSD is a public institution located in La Jolla, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

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

18
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Yale is located in New Haven, Connecticut and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 masters’s visual arts degrees to qualified students.

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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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 Yale University General Visual & Performing Arts Report

19

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking, coming in at #19. IUPUI is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 4 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

20
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. University of Southern California is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 17 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 full report on General Visual & Performing Arts at University of Southern California

21
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. West Virginia University is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full WVU General Visual & Performing Arts Report

22

Iowa State University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. This large school is located in Ames, Iowa, and it awarded 2 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Iowa State

23
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. GMU is a large school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 6 masters’s visual arts degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 GMU General Visual & Performing Arts Report

24

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 1 masters’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%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Missouri State

25
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Visual Arts Major ranking. Brooklyn College is a public institution located in Brooklyn, New York. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Visual & Performing Arts at Brooklyn College

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options