Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Montgomery College, our #1 best value for visual & performing arts in Maryland. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,394 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,230. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The Community College Of Baltimore County came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. The Community College Of Baltimore County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, compared with $10,182 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,038. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of The Community College Of Baltimore County earn a median of $52,440 early in their careers. Set against $18,038 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Southern Maryland is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $9,450 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,728 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of Southern Maryland generally make around $51,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harford Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Bel Air. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, compared with $8,832 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,624 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $50,636. That is a strong return on a $12,624 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cecil College earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of North East, Cecil College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,640, compared with $10,830 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,952 ten years after entry.
Prince Georges Community College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Largo, Prince Georges Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,034 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,762. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $13,949 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Prince Georges Community College earn a median of $56,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. In-state tuition and fees average $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,948 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $42,278. Set against $20,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
Frostburg State University placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Frostburg State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Frostburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,220, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,834 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Frostburg State University earn a median of $24,649 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,834 median debt. Frostburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Salisbury University placed #9 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Salisbury University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,084, while out-of-state students pay about $22,174. Students borrow a median of $24,239 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Salisbury University generally make around $20,632. Set against $24,239 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Salisbury University admits about 88% of applicants.
Anne Arundel Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,322 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,522. Students borrow a median of $13,947 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Anne Arundel Community College generally make around $59,894. Set against $13,947 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Towson University placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,728, compared with $29,820 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,540 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Towson University generally make around $26,574. That is a strong return on a $18,540 median debt. Towson University admits about 82% of applicants.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $23,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
University Of Maryland Baltimore County came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,256 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,225. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,996 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $24,643 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland Baltimore County admits about 72% of applicants.
St Marys College Of Maryland earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of St. Mary's City, St Marys College Of Maryland is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $15,298 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,374. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from St Marys College Of Maryland generally make around $41,665. Set against $22,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Mcdaniel College placed #15 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Westminster, Mcdaniel College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,081. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,247 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Mcdaniel College generally make around $54,904. Set against $23,247 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Bowie State University placed #16 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Bowie, Bowie State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,218 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,938. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,474 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bowie State University generally make around $47,668. Set against $28,474 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowie State University admits about 72% of applicants.
Stevenson University came in at #17 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Stevenson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Owings Mills. In-state tuition and fees average $40,560. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Stevenson University generally make around $27,668. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Maryland Institute College Of Art earned the #18 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Maryland Institute College Of Art is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,800. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Maryland Institute College Of Art earn a median of $37,763 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
