If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Capital Community College the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Connecticut. Located in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Students borrow a median of $12,059 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $22,100. 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 Central Connecticut State University, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,641. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,930. That is a strong return on a $22,641 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Connecticut State University earned it the #3 place for visual & performing arts. Eastern Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willimantic. Students from in state pay about $13,928 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University earn a median of $23,534 early in their careers. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
A rank of #4 makes Western Connecticut State University one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Danbury, Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,313. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Western Connecticut State University generally make around $22,473. That is a strong return on a $26,313 median debt. Western Connecticut State University admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Southern Connecticut State University, which ranked #5. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $13,442, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,000. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,549. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Connecticut placed #6 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,722. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $27,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Yale University landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,357. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $22,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Middletown. Students from in state pay about $70,042 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,125. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wesleyan University earn a median of $39,764 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford came in at #9 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of West Hartford. Students from in state pay about $49,075 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Hartford generally make around $27,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Albertus Magnus College came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,908. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $36,919. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Albertus Magnus College earn a median of $50,188 early in their careers. Set against $36,919 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Connecticut College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Connecticut College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New London. In-state tuition and fees average $67,242. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Connecticut College earn a median of $36,564 early in their careers. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 37%.
University Of New Haven landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $22,998. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New Haven admits about 60% of applicants.
Trinity College earned the #13 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Hartford, Trinity College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,770. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,667 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Trinity College earn a median of $52,927 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,667 median debt. The acceptance rate is 29%.
Quinnipiac University earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Hamden, Quinnipiac University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Students borrow a median of $26,554 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $33,487. Set against $26,554 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Quinnipiac University admits about 72% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
