If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Washtenaw Community College earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in Michigan. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Henry Ford Community College earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $19,075 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $19,911 early in their careers. 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 Kalamazoo Valley Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Delta College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of University Center, Delta College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, compared with $7,880 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,075 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Delta College generally make around $37,342. That is a strong return on a $14,075 median debt.
Oakland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
Muskegon Community College came in at #6 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,928. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $48,267. That is a strong return on a $14,928 median debt.
Schoolcraft College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. Students from in state pay about $3,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, while out-of-state students pay about $10,200. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,960. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Jackson Community College earn a median of $41,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Clair County Community College landed the #9 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,212, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Students borrow a median of $16,379 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of St Clair County Community College earn a median of $45,735 early in their careers. Set against $16,379 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mott Community College landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Mott Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,845, compared with $11,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,645 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Mott Community College earn a median of $37,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Rapids Community College landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Grand Rapids Community College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Rapids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,179, compared with $12,219 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,780. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Grand Rapids Community College generally make around $41,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ferris State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,918 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $30,924 early in their careers. Set against $26,918 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #13 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,671 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,125. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Oakland University placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,239. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,453. That is a strong return on a $27,239 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Center. In-state tuition and fees average $12,930, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,125 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $27,762 early in their careers. Set against $26,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saginaw Valley State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Wayne State University landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,279 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $26,802 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,279 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Central Michigan University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Students borrow a median of $28,810 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #18 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,323. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $32,893. Set against $27,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Grand Valley State University landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,258 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $28,695. Set against $28,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Siena Heights University placed #20 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,778. Students borrow a median of $25,790 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $52,293. That is a strong return on a $25,790 median debt. Siena Heights University admits about 69% of applicants.
Northern Michigan University placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,322, with out-of-state students paying around $19,944. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $23,786. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Kalamazoo College came in at #22 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $60,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,118 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Kalamazoo College generally make around $37,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University earned the #23 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,346. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,590. Set against $27,346 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Aquinas College Michigan ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College Michigan is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,218 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,925. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Aquinas College Michigan earn a median of $40,708 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University came in at #25 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,185 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,877. Set against $27,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 64 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
