[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value visual & performing arts schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat Colorado Mountain College this year. Colorado Mountain College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Glenwood Springs. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,616, compared with $12,840 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,953 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Colorado Mountain College generally make around $48,694. Set against $12,953 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Community College Of Aurora one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Aurora, Community College Of Aurora is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,470, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $20,750. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Community College Of Aurora earn a median of $20,533 early in their careers. 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 Red Rocks Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,859 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,459. Students borrow a median of $14,471 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $76,340. That is a strong return on a $14,471 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Aims Community College earned it the #4 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Greeley, Aims Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,258, with out-of-state students paying around $11,786. Students borrow a median of $11,199 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Aims Community College earn a median of $45,909 early in their careers. Set against $11,199 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Community College Of Denver one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,058 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,830 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $45,202. That is a strong return on a $18,830 median debt.
Arapahoe Community College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the suburb of Littleton, Arapahoe Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,434, compared with $17,034 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,100. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pikes Peak Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,510, compared with $17,110 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,066 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,037. Set against $16,066 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Front Range Community College placed #8 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,663 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,263 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Front Range Community College generally make around $21,397. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pickens Technical College earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Aurora, Pickens Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,140, compared with $9,250 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pickens Technical College earn a median of $35,622 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
Emily Griffith Technical College came in at #10 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Emily Griffith Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Denver. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $9,725 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Emily Griffith Technical College generally make around $42,412. Set against $9,725 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colorado State University Pueblo landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, with out-of-state students paying around $17,944. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,325. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $49,098. Set against $25,325 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
Metropolitan State College Of Denver landed the #12 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,124, compared with $30,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,227 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,693. That is a strong return on a $30,227 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Mesa State College came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,927, with out-of-state students paying around $25,124. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,987. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs placed #14 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs generally make around $30,966. That is a strong return on a $28,750 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Western State College Of Colorado ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,318, with out-of-state students paying around $24,434. Students borrow a median of $23,455 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,712. That is a strong return on a $23,455 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Lewis College landed the #16 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the town of Durango, Fort Lewis College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fort Lewis College earn a median of $22,754 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,500 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Colorado earned the #17 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,901, compared with $26,979 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,469 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,541. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, with out-of-state students paying around $29,391. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,664 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Denver earn a median of $30,018 early in their careers. Set against $26,664 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Denver admits about 75% of applicants.
Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #19 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $24,868 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins generally make around $38,399. Set against $24,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #20 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,902 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $27,870 early in their careers. Set against $18,902 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design landed the #21 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,190. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $46,544. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Rocky Mountain College Of Art And Design generally make around $29,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colorado College placed #22 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Students from in state pay about $70,734 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Colorado College earn a median of $37,342 early in their careers. Set against $17,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 18%.
University Of Denver earned the #23 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,398. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $26,670 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. University Of Denver admits about 78% of applicants.
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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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
