2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Maine
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
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2026 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools in Maine
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 University Of Southern Maine the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Maine. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,703 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $18,923 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine At Augusta is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, with out-of-state students paying around $22,178. Students borrow a median of $29,313 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Maine At Augusta generally make around $45,574. Set against $29,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maine is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,050 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $47,975. Set against $27,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Bowdoin College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,832. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,658. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $58,938. That is a strong return on a $20,658 median debt. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Husson University earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Bangor, Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,735. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $52,868. Set against $27,735 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Colby College earned the #6 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,016. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colby College earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,016 median debt. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
Maine College Of Art landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Portland, Maine College Of Art is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,942 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Maine College Of Art earn a median of $27,855 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
More Visual & Performing Arts Rankings
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
