[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 281 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
Central Piedmont Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $30,979 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Florida Online one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, with out-of-state students paying around $16,579. Students borrow a median of $17,983 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $30,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #3 place for visual & performing arts. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,088 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,997. That is a strong return on a $17,088 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Florida State College At Jacksonville generally make around $46,748. That is a strong return on a $19,139 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Wayne Community College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,116. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,108. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,616. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $44,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hinds Community College earned the #7 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Raymond, Hinds Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,250, while out-of-state students pay about $7,300. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $16,385. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Hinds Community College generally make around $34,003. Set against $16,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Trident Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,116. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami Dade College came in at #9 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Miami Dade College is a very large public school located in the city of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $6,500. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $27,702. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian River State College landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,764 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,201 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,492. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $44,082. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hillsborough Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,142 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Hillsborough Community College earn a median of $44,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #12 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Students from in state pay about $5,071 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Students borrow a median of $10,148 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wilkes Community College placed #13 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, compared with $8,716 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,125 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,125 median debt.
Southern Regional Technical College earned the #14 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the town of Thomasville, Southern Regional Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,007, while out-of-state students pay about $5,575. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,086. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Southern Regional Technical College generally make around $44,007. Set against $9,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Horry Georgetown Technical College placed #15 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Conway. In-state tuition and fees average $5,518, compared with $10,978 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $22,024. Set against $17,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of Valdosta, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,480, with out-of-state students paying around $6,048. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,864 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Wiregrass Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,452. That is a strong return on a $10,864 median debt.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #18 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,628, while out-of-state students pay about $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Fayetteville Technical Community College earn a median of $40,584 early in their careers. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College came in at #19 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from West Georgia Technical College generally make around $39,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattanooga State Community College landed the #20 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. Students borrow a median of $11,681 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $20,165 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Atlanta Technical College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Atlanta, Atlanta Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,382, with out-of-state students paying around $5,950. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,655 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Atlanta Technical College earn a median of $35,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,655 median debt.
St Petersburg College landed the #22 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,385. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from St Petersburg College generally make around $48,218. That is a strong return on a $24,385 median debt.
Itawamba Community College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Located in the rural area of Fulton, Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,820. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,942. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,832. Set against $10,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,276, while out-of-state students pay about $6,884. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $16,374 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $29,715 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midlands Technical College earned the #25 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,700. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Midlands Technical College generally make around $39,610. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Visual & Performing Arts Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for visual & performing arts this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 281 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 281 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).
[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
