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2024 Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools

126 Colleges in the United States
6,355 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
$25,134 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in general visual & performing arts, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #116 in the country in terms of popularity. This means you won't have too much trouble finding schools that offer the degree.

For its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 126 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general visual & performing arts students pursuing a degree. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 6,355 degrees in general visual & performing arts during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great General Visual & Performing Arts School

Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools Your choice of general visual & performing arts school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. In order to come up with a best overall ranking for general visual & performing arts schools, we combine our degree-level rankings, weighting them by the number of degrees awarded at each level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your General Visual & Performing Arts Degree Level

Associate Degrees in Visual Arts
Bachelor's Degrees in Visual Arts
Master's Degrees in Visual Arts
Doctor's Degrees in Visual Arts

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. You can also filter this list by location to find schools closer to you.

In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.

More information on how we come up with our rankings can be found here: College Factual's Data Methodology.

Best Schools for General Visual & Performing Arts in the United States

Although we recommend filtering by degree level first, you can view the list below to see which schools give the educational experience for the visual arts degree levels they offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

19 Top Schools in Visual Arts

1
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
84 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
$32,207 Median Starting Salary

The University of Texas at Austin is a wonderful option for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts. Located in the large city of Austin, UT Austin is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #36 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UT Austin is a great university overall.

There were approximately 84 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the general visual & performing arts program at The University of Texas at Austin get $7,073 above the standard college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from The University of Texas at Austin

2
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In NC

Duke University is a good decision for students pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts. Located in the large city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #7 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Duke is a great university overall.

There were roughly 6 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Duke University

3
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
49 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
32.7% Growth in Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in general visual & performing arts has to check out University of Southern California. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #11 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means USC is a great university overall.

There were about 49 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the visual arts program make around $18,394 in the first couple years of their career.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University of Southern California

4
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, TX
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
5th Most Popular In TX
23.1% Growth in Graduates

It is hard to beat Rice University if you want to pursue a degree in general visual & performing arts. Rice is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Houston. A Best Colleges rank of #16 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Rice is a great university overall.

There were roughly 26 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Rice in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Rice University

5
UPenn crest
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In PA
7.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #4 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means UPenn is a great university overall.

There were approximately 13 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UPenn in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University of Pennsylvania

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
99 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
$22,195 Median Starting Salary

UCSD is a fairly large public university located in the city of La Jolla. A Best Colleges rank of #38 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.

There were roughly 99 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the visual arts program make an average of $22,195 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University of California - San Diego

7
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
60 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
6.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #58 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UF is a great university overall.

There were approximately 60 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent year we have data available. General Visual & Performing Arts degree recipients from University of Florida receive an earnings boost of approximately $5,715 above the average earnings of general visual & performing arts graduates.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University of Florida

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
302 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
46.0% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Richardson, UT Dallas is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 11th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were about 302 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UT Dallas in the most recent data year. General Visual & Performing Arts degree recipients from The University of Texas at Dallas receive an earnings boost of around $5,650 above the typical earnings of general visual & performing arts graduates.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from The University of Texas at Dallas

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
470 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
24.3% Growth in Graduates

UCF is a very large public university located in the large suburb of Orlando. This university ranks 7th out of 77 colleges for overall quality in the state of Florida.

There were approximately 470 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UCF in the most recent data year. Those general visual & performing arts students who get their degree from University of Central Florida receive $13,017 more than the standard visual arts student.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University of Central Florida

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
107 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
17.8% Growth in Graduates

GMU is a very large public university located in the suburb of Fairfax. A Best Colleges rank of #117 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means GMU is a great university overall.

There were about 107 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at GMU in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the visual arts program report average early career wages of $26,808.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from George Mason University

11
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
16th Most Popular In PA

Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #9 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Carnegie Mellon is a great university overall.

There were approximately 2 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Carnegie Mellon University

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
6th Most Popular In TX
52.4% Growth in Graduates

Texas Tech is a very large public university located in the large city of Lubbock. This university ranks 9th out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 21 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Texas Tech in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Texas Tech University

12
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In KY
45 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded

UK is a very large public university located in the city of Lexington. This university ranks 1st out of 38 colleges for overall quality in the state of Kentucky.

There were about 45 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UK in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from University of Kentucky

13
Associate Degree Highest Degree Type
4th Most Popular In TX
71 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded

Austin Community College District is a very large public college located in the large city of Austin. This college ranks 33rd out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were about 71 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Austin Community College District in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Austin Community College District

14
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
1st Most Popular In CT

Located in the midsize city of New Haven, Yale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #8 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Yale is a great university overall.

There were about 5 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Yale in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Yale University

15
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
52 Visual Arts Degrees Awarded
7.7% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Los Angeles, Otis College of Art and Design is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

There were about 52 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Otis College of Art and Design in the most recent year we have data available. Those general visual & performing arts students who get their degree from Otis College of Art and Design earn $11,397 more than the standard visual arts graduate.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Otis College of Art and Design

16
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
17th Most Popular In NY
30.0% Growth in Graduates

RPI is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Troy. A Best Colleges rank of #106 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means RPI is a great school overall.

There were approximately 10 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at RPI in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

17
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
24th Most Popular In NY

Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall.

There were about 5 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from Columbia University in the City of New York

18
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
$52,377 Median Starting Salary

Located in the small city of Missoula, UM is a public university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 11 colleges for overall quality in the state of Montana.

There were roughly 13 general visual & performing arts students who graduated with this degree at UM in the most recent data year. Those general visual & performing arts students who get their degree from The University of Montana make $27,243 more than the average visual arts graduate.

More information about a degree in general visual & performing arts from The University of Montana

Rest of the Top Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for General Visual & Performing Arts students that almost earned our Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools award.

Rank College Location
19 Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA
20 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI
21 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA
22 Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS
23 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
24 Ohio University - Athens Campus Athens, OH
25 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO

General Visual & Performing Arts by Region

View the Best General Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

View All Rankings >

General Visual & Performing Arts is one of 10 different types of Visual & Performing Arts programs to choose from.

Visual Arts Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Digital Arts 3,225
Visual & Performing Arts 3,130

View All Visual Arts Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Fine & Studio Arts 37,413
Design & Applied Arts 36,301
Music 25,910
Drama & Theater Arts 17,341
Film, Video & Photographic Arts 16,778
Arts & Media Management 4,788
Dance 3,288
Other Visual Art 912
Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry 119
Community/Environmental/Socially-Engaged Art 10

View All Visual Arts Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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Degree Guides by Major
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