[Visual & Performing Arts](/majors/visual-and-performing-arts/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for visual & performing arts students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the visual & performing arts degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in visual & performing arts, no school beat Black Hills State University this year. Located in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,916 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,018 for out-of-state students. Visual & Performing Arts graduates carry a median of $26,820 in student loans. Early-career visual & performing arts graduates make about $31,022. Set against $26,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Black Hills State University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Dakota State University earned it the #2 place for visual & performing arts. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, visual & performing arts degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $35,944. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of South Dakota one of the best values for visual & performing arts. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,432, compared with $12,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for visual & performing arts graduates is $27,000. Visual & Performing Arts graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $36,511 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
