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 Virginia Western Community College the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Virginia. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $31,440 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $5,000 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $18,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Germanna Community College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,257, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $10,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Germanna Community College generally make around $41,880. Set against $10,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at Northern Virginia Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $33,232. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Tidewater Community College one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $10,195. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $22,935 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Community College landed the #6 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Danville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,992, compared with $11,430 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $9,494. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Danville Community College generally make around $44,922. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas Nelson Community College landed the #7 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,088, with out-of-state students paying around $11,526. Students borrow a median of $14,402 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $36,758. That is a strong return on a $14,402 median debt.
Old Dominion University landed the #8 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,355. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $27,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
George Mason University earned the #9 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $24,951. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,268. Set against $24,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Norfolk State University placed #10 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Norfolk State University generally make around $54,971. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Radford University placed #11 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,395 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $31,113. Set against $26,395 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Mary Baldwin College earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Staunton, Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,187. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $29,562 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $60,386. That is a strong return on a $29,562 median debt.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #13 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,079. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $29,916. That is a strong return on a $25,079 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Bridgewater College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Bridgewater College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bridgewater. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,090. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,423. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Bridgewater College generally make around $38,344. That is a strong return on a $26,423 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University landed the #15 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $43,447. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University earned the #16 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,046 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $33,714. That is a strong return on a $21,046 median debt. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Longwood University landed the #17 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. Students from in state pay about $15,740 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,980. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $25,688. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $35,538 early in their careers. Set against $25,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $23,314 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $24,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Christopher Newport University came in at #19 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,828, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $23,656 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
College Of William And Mary came in at #20 for value in visual & performing arts this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $18,935. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $29,752. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #21 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,636 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $23,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Hollins University placed #22 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the suburb of Roanoke, Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,560. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Hollins University earn a median of $26,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hollins University admits about 68% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #23 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,234. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $40,510. Set against $26,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Marymount University landed the #24 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,120. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $44,175 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Liberty University placed #25 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $26,487 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $35,885. That is a strong return on a $26,487 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong visual & performing arts education at a price that pays off.
