2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
With 155,377 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, visual and performing arts is the 10th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,427 and had an average of $28,377 in loans still to pay off.
Across Tennessee, there were 2,858 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,297 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Featured Fine Arts & Design schools near , edit
More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools
The visual & performing 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 & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 92 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Vanderbilt also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $3,156 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Vanderbilt 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. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Middle Tennessee State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 459 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Middle Tennessee State University has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Middle Tennessee State University is $8,919 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Middle Tennessee State University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large school located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that handed out 84 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
UT Chattanooga also took the #7 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. It costs about $8,108 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UT Chattanooga.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k. UT Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 117 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Knoxville has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is $10,224 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Tennessee - Martin landed the #5 spot on the list. Martin, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.
UT Martin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $7,524 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend The University of Tennessee - Martin.
Rhodes College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rhodes College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Memphis, Tennessee. It awarded 19 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Rhodes College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Rhodes College is $16,870 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Tennessee Technological University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, this fairly large public school awarded 56 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tennessee Tech University, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee Technological University is $11,641 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Tennessee Tech University
Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. TNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 19 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
TNU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $15,228 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend TNU.
East Tennessee State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. East Tennessee State University is a fairly large school located in Johnson City, Tennessee that handed out 92 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
ETSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for ETSU is $10,632 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at East Tennessee State University
University of Memphis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Memphis is a public institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 121 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UofM did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for UofM is $10,256 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Memphis
With a ranking of #11, Tennessee State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this medium-sized public school awarded 19 degrees to qualified bachelors’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.
Tennessee State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The yearly cost to attend Tennessee State University is $11,015 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Tennessee State University
Freed-Hardeman University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Henderson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
FHU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $13,512 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend FHU.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Freed-Hardeman University
Austin Peay State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, and it awarded 90 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Austin Peay State University also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Austin Peay State University is $10,909 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Austin Peay State University Visual & Performing Arts Report
Belmont University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to 744 students in 2019-2020.
Belmont also took the #2 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Belmont University is $25,980 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Lee University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lee University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lee University is $13,841 for Tennessee Bachelor’s Degree Visual & Performing Arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Milligan University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Milligan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Milligan College, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Milligan also took the #18 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Milligan is $14,089 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Milligan University
Lipscomb University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lipscomb is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Lipscomb not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $20,036 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lipscomb University.
The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Southern Adventist University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Adventist University is located in Collegedale, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Southern Adventist not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Adventist University is $19,346 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Southern Adventist University
Union University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Union is located in Jackson, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
Union also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $26,079 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Union.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
With a ranking of #20, Nossi College of Art did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Madison, Tennessee, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Nossi College of Art, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nossi College of Art is $20,776 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Nossi College of Art
Visible Music College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for a Bachelor’s in Tennessee For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Memphis, Tennessee, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.
Visible Music College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Tennessee” list. It costs about $21,073 for tennessee bachelor’s degree visual & performing arts students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Visible Music College.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.
Focus on a Specific Degree Level
All Degree Levels
Best Value Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Bachelors
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Doctorate
Best Value Doctor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Narrow Results by State
North Carolina
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in North Carolina
Alabama
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Alabama
Georgia
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Georgia
Louisiana
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Louisiana
South Carolina
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in South Carolina
Virginia
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
West Virginia
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in West Virginia
Kentucky
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Kentucky
Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Mississippi
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Mississippi
Florida
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Florida
Arkansas
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region
- Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k)
Switch to a Similar Major
Foreign Languages & Linguistics
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Foreign Languages & Linguistics (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Theology & Religious Vocations
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Theology & Religious Vocations (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Switch to a More Focused Major
General Visual & Performing Arts
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for General Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Design & Applied Arts
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Design & Applied Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Film, Video & Photographic Arts
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Film, Video & Photographic Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Music
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Music (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Dance
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Dance (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Drama & Theater Arts
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Drama & Theater Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Fine & Studio Arts
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Fine & Studio Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Arts & Media Management
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Arts & Media Management (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Visual & Performing Arts Bachelor's Degree Schools in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students in the state of Tennessee
Most Focused Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students in Tennessee
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Online Visual & Performing Arts Schools
Visual & Performing Arts students in Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $0-$30k) in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students with family income less than $30k in Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $48-$75k) in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students with family income $48-$75k in Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income Over $110k) in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students with family income exceeding $110k in Tennessee
Highest Paid Bachelor's Degree Visual & Performing Arts Graduates in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students in Tennessee
Most Popular Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students in Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in Tennessee (With Aid)
Visual & Performing Arts students getting aid in Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $30-$48k) in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students with family income $30-$48k in Tennessee
Best Value Bachelor's Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts (Income $75-$110k) in Tennessee
Visual & Performing Arts students with family income $75-$110k in Tennessee
Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Bonnielou2013.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |