If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Cuyahoga Community College District tops our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,795 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Cuyahoga Community College District generally make around $22,517. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Elgin Community College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $7,727. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Harper College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $44,523. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $24,490. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $11,077 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $31,798. Set against $11,077 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College placed #6 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #7 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, compared with $15,330 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,994 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,994 median debt.
Joliet Junior College placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Muskegon Community College earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,250 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,928. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College earned the #10 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,865. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. Set against $15,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Delta College came in at #11 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,880. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $14,075 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Delta College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,525. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Henry Ford Community College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. In-state tuition and fees average $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Henry Ford Community College generally make around $19,911. That is a strong return on a $19,075 median debt.
Columbus State Community College earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,488 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,041. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,710 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,602. Set against $12,710 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Schoolcraft College came in at #16 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Students borrow a median of $15,677 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College placed #17 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,956, with out-of-state students paying around $7,199. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Gateway Technical College earn a median of $29,734 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sauk Valley Community College came in at #19 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Dixon. Students from in state pay about $5,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,900. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,811. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of $48,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,811 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #20 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Students borrow a median of $15,554 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $39,095. That is a strong return on a $15,554 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,904. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $19,408. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College generally make around $42,936. Set against $19,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,582 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Fox Valley Technical College generally make around $32,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Southeast earned the #23 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,424 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,942. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast generally make around $31,194. Set against $18,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Jackson Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #25 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $44,345. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools also delivered strong value for visual & performing arts this year:
Narrow Visual & Performing Arts Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 320 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 97 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
