Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Marshall University earned the #1 spot for value among visual & performing arts schools in West Virginia. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,367 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $24,475. That is a strong return on a $25,367 median debt. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Shepherd University one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,056, with out-of-state students paying around $19,082. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $33,059. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Students looking for strong value in visual & performing arts will find it at West Virginia University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $23,908. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $28,148. That is a strong return on a $23,908 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
West Liberty University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in visual & performing arts, landing the #4 spot this year. West Liberty University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of West Liberty. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,893, compared with $17,442 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,144 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $48,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Liberty University admits about 97% of applicants.
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 · 14 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.
[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.
