by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 17 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Visual & Performing Arts Master's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 720 master's degrees in visual & performing arts during the 2022-2023 academic year.
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. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
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.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our complete 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 the Plains States Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in visual & performing arts.
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in visual & performing arts needs to take a look at Washington University in St Louis. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, WUSTL is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Washington University in St Louis
University of Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Iowa is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Iowa City.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of Iowa
Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in visual & performing arts has to check out University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Located in the large city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
It's hard to beat Iowa State University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Iowa State University
MCAD is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the large city of Minneapolis.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Minneapolis College of Art and Design
UMKC is a fairly large public university located in the city of Kansas City.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of Missouri - Kansas City
Lindenwood University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Saint Charles.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Lindenwood University
K -State is a large public university located in the city of Manhattan.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from Kansas State University
Mizzou is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Columbia.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from University of Missouri - Columbia
North Dakota State University is a large public university located in the midsize city of Fargo.More information about a master’s in visual & performing arts from North Dakota State University - Main Campus
Explore the best visual & performing arts schools for a specific state in the Plains States Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 32 | 228 |
| Minnesota | 31 | 106 |
| Kansas | 30 | 97 |
| Iowa | 29 | 124 |
| Nebraska | 29 | 74 |
| North Dakota | 28 | 15 |
| South Dakota | 25 | 16 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Music | 311 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 201 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 93 |
| Design & Applied Arts | 76 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 16 |
| Arts & Media Management | 13 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 6 |
| Dance | 4 |
