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2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

25 Ranked Colleges
790 Degrees Awarded
$14,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 155,377 visual and performing arts students received their degree, making the major the 10th most popular in the country. 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 the Plains States region, there were 7,635 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,896 and $25,780 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 790 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,069 and $19,434 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in visual and performing arts. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great visual and performing arts programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Visual & Performing Arts Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Visual & Performing Arts in the Plains States Region

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Alexandria, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 32 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

ATCC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,550 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Alexandria Technical & Community College.

Full ATCC Visual & Performing Arts Report

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Metropolitan Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. MCC is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 76 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MCC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Metropolitan Community College is $4,295 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Metropolitan Community College

#3

North Hennepin Community College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Out of the 25 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, North Hennepin Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized school located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota that handed out 18 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

North Hennepin Community College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,284 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend North Hennepin Community College.

Full North Hennepin Community College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#4

Johnson County Community College

Overland Park, Kansas
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Johnson County Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Overland Park, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 77 degrees to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JCCC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend JCCC is $12,632 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Johnson County Community College

#5

Hennepin Technical College

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hennepin Technical College. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Hennepin Technical College is a public institution located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Hennepin Technical College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hennepin Technical College is $11,796 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Hennepin Technical College

#6

Bismarck State College

Bismarck, North Dakota
#9 in overall quality

Bismarck State College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Bismarck State College is a small school located in Bismarck, North Dakota that handed out 13 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

BSC also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend BSC is $9,420 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Bismarck State College

#7

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, South Dakota
#2 in overall quality

University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. USD is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 2 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students list, USD has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USD is $18,555 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at USD

#8

Century College

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
#10 in overall quality

Century College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 47 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students list, Century College has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,808 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Century College.

Full Century College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#9

Dakota County Technical College

Rosemount, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

Dakota County Technical College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Dakota County Technical College is located in Rosemount, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

DCTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for DCTC is $11,063 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at DCTC

#10

Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis, Missouri
#16 in overall quality

Saint Louis Community College landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Louis Community College is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Saint Louis Community College also took the #16 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $6,796 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Saint Louis Community College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Saint Louis Community College

#18 in overall quality

Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students list, Western Iowa Tech Community College has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Iowa Tech Community College is $7,201 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Western Iowa Tech Community College

#12

Kirkwood Community College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Kirkwood Community College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

Kirkwood Community College also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $10,939 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Kirkwood Community College.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Kirkwood Community College

#12 in overall quality

Des Moines Area Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. DMACC is a public institution located in Ankeny, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 33 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DMACC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,076 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend DMACC.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at DMACC

#14

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska
#17 in overall quality

Northeast Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Northeast Community College is a medium-sized school located in Norfolk, Nebraska that handed out 14 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeast also took the #17 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeast Community College is $8,749 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northeast Community College

#20 in overall quality

Southeast Community College Area ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Southeast Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Community College Area is $9,059 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Full Southeast Community College Area Visual & Performing Arts Report

#14 in overall quality

Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 53 students in 2019-2020.

Minneapolis Community and Technical College also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Minneapolis Community and Technical College is $12,376 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Full Minneapolis Community and Technical College Visual & Performing Arts Report

#17

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Dunwoody College of Technology landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Dunwoody College of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 5 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Dunwoody College of Technology also took the #4 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,488 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Dunwoody College of Technology.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Dunwoody College of Technology

#22 in overall quality

Iowa Central Community College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Fort Dodge, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa Central Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa Central Community College is $10,102 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Iowa Central Community College

#19

Rasmussen University - Minnesota

St. Cloud, Minnesota
#19 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Minnesota landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 22 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students list, Rasmussen University - Minnesota has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Minnesota is $18,586 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Rasmussen University - Minnesota

#20

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Washburn University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students list, Washburn University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $14,481 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Washburn University

#21 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - North Dakota came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this small private for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - North Dakota also took the #21 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $18,939 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend Rasmussen University - North Dakota.

Full Rasmussen University - North Dakota Visual & Performing Arts Report

#22

North Central University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #22, North Central University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified associates’s visual and performing arts students in 2019-2020.

North Central University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend North Central University is $21,142 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central University Visual & Performing Arts Report

#24 in overall quality

Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Siba did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Stevens - The Institute of Business & Arts is $17,378 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Siba

#24

The Creative Center

Omaha, Nebraska
#23 in overall quality

The Creative Center came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking. The Creative Center is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Creative Center, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $38,413 for plains states region associate degree visual & performing arts students per year to attend The Creative Center.

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.

Full Creative Center Visual & Performing Arts Report

#25 in overall quality

Rasmussen University - Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools for an Associate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Rasmussen University - Kansas is a small private for-profit school situated in Topeka, Kansas. It awarded 5 associates’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2019-2020.

Rasmussen University - Kansas also made our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend Rasmussen University - Kansas is $18,934 for Plains States Region Associate Degree Visual & Performing Arts students.

Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Rasmussen University - Kansas

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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.

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