by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 7 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Visual & Performing Arts Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 609 master's degrees in visual & performing arts to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of visual & performing arts for getting your master's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality visual & performing arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for visual & performing arts students working on their master's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Visual & Performing Arts Master's Degree Schools in Pennsylvania ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in visual & performing arts.
It's hard to beat Carnegie Mellon University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Carnegie Mellon University
University of Pennsylvania is a wonderful decision for students interested in a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Philadelphia, UPenn is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of Pennsylvania
Messiah University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Messiah is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Messiah University
Temple University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Temple University
Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Drexel is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Drexel University
Located in the large city of Philadelphia, PAFA is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Duquesne University
Explore all the Best Visual & Performing Arts Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 35 | 2,756 |
| New Jersey | 32 | 150 |
| Maryland | 32 | 434 |
| District of Columbia | 32 | 160 |
| Delaware | 24 | 33 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music | 228 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 120 |
| Arts & Media Management | 114 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 61 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 37 |
| Dance | 24 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 15 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 10 |
