[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 53 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in visual & performing arts, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Oklahoma City Community College the best value for a degree in visual & performing arts in Oklahoma. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,059, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Students borrow a median of $13,209 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $27,738. That is a strong return on a $13,209 median debt.
Tulsa Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $41,718. 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 Pontotoc Technology Center, which ranked #3. Located in the rural area of Ada, Pontotoc Technology Center is a small public university. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Pontotoc Technology Center earn a median of $44,846 early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes East Central University one of the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,032, while out-of-state students pay about $17,842. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $21,840 in student loans. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from East Central University generally make around $42,103. That is a strong return on a $21,840 median debt. East Central University admits about 58% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gordon Cooper Technology Center earned it the #5 place for visual & performing arts. Located in the town of Shawnee, Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public university. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Gordon Cooper Technology Center earn a median of $44,822 early in their careers.
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value visual & performing arts schools. Southern Oklahoma Technology Center is a small public school located in the rural area of Ardmore. Median earnings reach $29,012 ten years out.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center placed #7 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public institution. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $14,859. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $26,570. Set against $14,859 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center came in at #8 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Located in the rural area of Choctaw, Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center is a small public university. Median earnings reach $49,311 ten years out.
Rose State College came in at #9 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Rose State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Midwest City. Students from in state pay about $5,030 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,407. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $13,451 in student loans. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rose State College earn a median of $50,860 early in their careers. Set against $13,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tulsa Technology Center landed the #10 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $32,406. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester landed the #11 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of McAlester, Kiamichi Technology Center Mcalester is a mid-sized public university. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $7,992 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $23,377. Set against $7,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee earned the #12 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Okmulgee. Students from in state pay about $5,774 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. Students borrow a median of $13,356 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee generally make around $28,438. That is a strong return on a $13,356 median debt.
Canadian Valley Technology Center landed the #13 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the rural area of El Reno, Canadian Valley Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Canadian Valley Technology Center generally make around $46,777.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #14 spot for visual & performing arts value this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $34,516. That is a strong return on a $21,111 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Rogers State University earned the #15 position for value in visual & performing arts this year. Rogers State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Claremore. In-state tuition and fees average $7,750, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $22,936. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Rogers State University earn a median of $45,644 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,936 median debt.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #16 for value in visual & performing arts this year. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. In-state tuition and fees average $9,797, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $25,293. Set against $22,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #17 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,818, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,261 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $26,499. That is a strong return on a $21,261 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Oklahoma Christian University placed #18 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Located in the city of Edmond, Oklahoma Christian University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,180. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of Oklahoma Christian University earn a median of $31,466 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Oklahoma City University came in at #19 for value in visual & performing arts this year. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,754. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $26,562. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $21,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Oral Roberts University placed #20 among the best values for visual & performing arts. Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,470. Students borrow a median of $28,022 to complete the visual & performing arts program here. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $19,515. Set against $28,022 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oral Roberts University admits about 99% of applicants.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
