Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Elgin Community College, our #1 best value for visual & performing arts in Illinois. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Triton College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Triton College is a large public school located in the suburb of River Grove. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Harper College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $44,523. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes College Of Dupage one of the best values for visual & performing arts. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $11,077 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Joliet Junior College earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mchenry County College earned the #6 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College came in at #7 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
Sauk Valley Community College landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,900. Students borrow a median of $12,811 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Sauk Valley Community College generally make around $48,855. Set against $12,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rend Lake College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,500, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. That is a strong return on a $8,688 median debt.
Millikin University placed #10 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,792 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Millikin University earn a median of $22,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Saint Xavier University earned the #11 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $51,753. That is a strong return on a $25,735 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #12 among the best values for visual & performing arts. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,458. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $25,149 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Western Illinois University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,893 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $31,342. Set against $28,893 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,319. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,845. That is a strong return on a $20,319 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,642 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $33,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,820 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $39,081. That is a strong return on a $25,820 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #17 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,183 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $26,774 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,183 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #18 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,128. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $27,051. That is a strong return on a $25,128 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #19 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,792 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $31,713 early in their careers. Set against $24,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Chicago ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Illinois State University placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $21,735. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Aurora University came in at #22 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $51,483. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Elmhurst College placed #23 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Students borrow a median of $27,966 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $22,653. That is a strong return on a $27,966 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Greenville College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the town of Greenville, Greenville College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,200. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,933. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University landed the #25 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,897. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $27,419. Set against $25,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s visual & performing arts value ranking:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 86 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
