Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Middlesex Community College Bedford the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Massachusetts. Set in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $12,755. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bristol Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fall River. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,832, compared with $10,776 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,482 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $37,897. That is a strong return on a $9,482 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Williams College, which ranked #3. Williams College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamstown. Students from in state pay about $68,560 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,850 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $34,560. Set against $11,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Bay Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts Bay Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,856, with out-of-state students paying around $10,800. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,008. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Massachusetts Bay Community College generally make around $44,553. That is a strong return on a $11,008 median debt.
Bunker Hill Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Boston, Bunker Hill Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,168, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,893. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $51,782. That is a strong return on a $11,893 median debt.
Massasoit Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,376 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Students borrow a median of $10,894 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Massasoit Community College earn a median of $42,938 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harvard University earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,616. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $115,516. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Springfield Technical Community College came in at #8 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,707. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $42,457. Set against $9,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holyoke Community College earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the rural area of Holyoke, Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,988, while out-of-state students pay about $10,932. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,763. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Set against $9,763 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amherst College came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Amherst, Amherst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,480 in tuition and fees. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,398 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $59,271. Set against $15,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Fitchburg State University placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Fitchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,346, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fitchburg State University earn a median of $29,191 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Bridgewater State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Bridgewater State University is a large public school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,734, compared with $17,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $29,595. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Framingham State University came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,920 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Framingham State University generally make around $28,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,283. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $36,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. 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 Massachusetts Boston generally make around $36,980. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
Salem State University came in at #16 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,338, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Salem State University generally make around $26,180. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Westfield State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the suburb of Westfield, Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,179, with out-of-state students paying around $18,259. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Westfield State University generally make around $33,440. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Wellesley College landed the #18 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Wellesley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wellesley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,176. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $11,075. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #19 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,795. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, with out-of-state students paying around $32,567. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $27,253. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Massachusetts College Of Art And Design ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $43,400 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,807 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,410. That is a strong return on a $24,807 median debt. Massachusetts College Of Art And Design admits about 76% of applicants.
Lasell College earned the #22 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Newton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,040. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $29,661. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lasell College admits about 81% of applicants.
Boston University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $26,127 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $30,916. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Smith College landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $20,171. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Hampshire College placed #25 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the rural area of Amherst, Hampshire College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,896. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,500. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Hampshire College generally make around $21,113. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. Hampshire College admits about 75% of applicants.
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 · 73 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
