by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Visual & Performing Arts is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 10th of all the majors we analyze. In 2020-2021, 149,215 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2019-2020, visual and performing arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,700 and had an average of $25,051 in loans still to pay off.
Across the New England region, there were 9,409 visual and performing arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,863 and $25,521 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” ranking, we looked at 59 colleges that offer a degree in visual and performing arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality visual and performing arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the visual and performing arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region.
Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern New Hampshire University landed the #1 spot on the list. This large school is located in Manchester, New Hampshire, and it awarded 599 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $42,645 for new england region visual & performing arts students per year to attend SNHU.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bridgewater State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region. Bridgewater State University is a public institution located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Bridgewater State is $18,951 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gordon College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. Gordon College is a small school located in Wenham, Massachusetts that handed out 28 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $25,748 for new england region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Gordon College.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 59 schools in the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Salem State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Salem, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Salem State is $19,017 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern Maine. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region. Portland, Maine is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Southern Maine is $12,055 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Southern Maine
Westfield State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. Westfield State University is a medium-sized school located in Westfield, Massachusetts that handed out 28 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Westfield State University is $19,583 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Westfield State University
Keene State College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. Keene State is located in Keene, New Hampshire and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $19,794 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend Keene State.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #8. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a small public school situated in North Adams, Massachusetts. It awarded 32 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend MCLA is $15,627 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Lesley University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 162 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $33,446 for new england region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Lesley University.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Lesley University
Eastern Connecticut State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. ECSU is located in Willimantic, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Eastern Connecticut State University is $19,290 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
Rhode Island College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #11. RIC is a medium-sized public school situated in Providence, Rhode Island. It awarded 98 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Rhode Island College is $12,144 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
Western Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Danbury, Connecticut, and it awarded 102 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,166 for new england region visual & performing arts students per year to attend WestConn.
University of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. This large school is located in Amherst, Massachusetts, and it awarded 191 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
UMass Amherst not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” list. It costs about $22,038 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students per year to attend UMass Amherst.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Massachusetts Amherst
Northern Vermont University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #14. Northern Vermont University is a small school located in Johnson, Vermont that handed out 55 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,906 for new england region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Northern Vermont University.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at Northern Vermont University
University of Maine landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. University of Maine is a fairly large public school situated in Orono, Maine. It awarded 36 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UMaine is $16,033 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Visual & Performing Arts at University of Maine
University of Hartford landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. University of Hartford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in West Hartford, Connecticut. It awarded 283 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Hartford is $28,712 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of Hartford
Central Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #17. Central Connecticut State University is located in New Britain, Connecticut and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $16,723 for new england region visual & performing arts students per year to attend Central Connecticut State University.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 441 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design is $22,968 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at Massachusetts College of Art and Design
With a ranking of #19, University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth is a medium-sized public school situated in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It awarded 115 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UMass Dartmouth is $20,050 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
Full University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth Visual & Performing Arts Report
With a ranking of #20, University of Rhode Island did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. URI is a fairly large public school situated in Kingston, Rhode Island. It awarded 110 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Rhode Island is $18,638 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
New England Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking, coming in at #21. New England Tech is located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 93 ’s visual and performing arts degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend New England Institute of Technology is $35,654 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
With a ranking of #22, Endicott College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. Endicott College is a small school located in Beverly, Massachusetts that handed out 63 ’s visual and performing arts degrees in 2020-2021.
Endicott also took the #24 spot in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Endicott is $35,992 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. New Haven, Connecticut is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SCSU is $20,830 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
University of New Hampshire - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region list. Durham, New Hampshire is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s visual and performing arts degrees to 62 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend UNH is $24,160 for new england region visual & performing arts students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Visual & Performing Arts at University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
University of Connecticut landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region ranking. UCONN is a public institution located in Storrs, Connecticut. The school has a large population, and it awarded 135 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new england region visual & performing arts students list, UCONN has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Visual & Performing Arts Schools in the New England Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Connecticut is $22,974 for New England Region Visual & Performing Arts students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
