[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in Indiana. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,710 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $26,602. That is a strong return on a $12,710 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Indiana University Southeast, which ranked #2. Indiana University Southeast is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of New Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, while out-of-state students pay about $22,811. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,942 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,194. That is a strong return on a $18,942 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,750 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $27,595 early in their careers. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Vincennes University one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University South Bend is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of South Bend, Indiana University South Bend is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,424, compared with $22,811 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $25,295 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana University South Bend generally make around $23,308. That is a strong return on a $25,295 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,481. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $37,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #7 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,928 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,711. Set against $21,928 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,920. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,716. Set against $26,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,758. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,481. That is a strong return on a $20,758 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Huntington University landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Huntington University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Huntington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,870. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,996. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,455. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Huntington University admits about 76% of applicants.
Indiana State University landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,985. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $41,038. That is a strong return on a $26,985 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Ball State University came in at #12 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, while out-of-state students pay about $29,630. Students borrow a median of $24,502 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,228. That is a strong return on a $24,502 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Evansville landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,172. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,727 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Evansville earn a median of $23,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,727 median debt. University Of Evansville admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne came in at #14 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,460. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne earn a median of $32,786 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Taylor University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,490. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,921. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Depauw University earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Depauw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Greencastle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,070. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Depauw University generally make around $46,127. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Notre Dame ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,566 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,736. Set against $19,566 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Butler University came in at #18 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,560. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,236. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Butler University generally make around $34,911. That is a strong return on a $24,236 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
