by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 111 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 19,205 associate degrees in visual & performing arts during the <nil> academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of visual & performing arts for getting your associate degree school matters. Important measures of a quality visual & performing arts program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a associate degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their associate degree from the school. After all, your associate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for visual & performing arts students working on their associate degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing an associate degree in visual & performing arts. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It is difficult to beat FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles if you wish to pursue an associate degree in visual & performing arts. FIDM Los Angeles is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising - Los Angeles
Fashion Institute of Technology is a great option for students pursuing an associate degree in visual & performing arts. Located in the city of New York, FIT SUNY is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Fashion Institute of Technology
American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a good option for students pursuing an associate degree in visual & performing arts. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from American Musical and Dramatic Academy
The New School is a good option for individuals interested in an associate degree in visual & performing arts. New School University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from The New School
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from American Academy of Dramatic Arts - Los Angeles
Located in the city of Madison, Madison College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Madison Area Technical College
Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Pratt Institute - Main
Collin County Community College District is a very large public college located in the suburb of McKinney.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Collin County Community College District
Located in the midsize city of Overland Park, JCCC is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Johnson County Community College
Located in the city of San Francisco, Academy of Art University is a private for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Academy of Art University
Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from John Tyler Community College
Located in the large city of Orlando, Valencia College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Valencia College
Located in the suburb of Lake Worth, Palm Beach State College is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Palm Beach State College
New England Tech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of East Greenwich.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from New England Institute of Technology
Located in the small city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a public college with a large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Gateway Technical College
Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College is a public college with a small student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Western Technical College
Austin Community College District is a very large public college located in the city of Austin.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Austin Community College District
Located in the suburb of Ankeny, DMACC is a public college with a very large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Des Moines Area Community College
Located in the large suburb of Lawrenceville, GTC is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Gwinnett Technical College
Located in the large city of Aurora, CCA is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Community College of Aurora
Located in the large city of Albuquerque, CNM is a public college with a fairly large student population.More information about a associate in visual & performing arts from Central New Mexico Community College
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | El Centro College | Dallas, TX |
| 24 | County College of Morris | Randolph, NJ |
| 25 | Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN |
| 26 | Minneapolis Community and Technical College | Minneapolis, MN |
| 27 | Wake Technical Community College | Raleigh, NC |
| 28 | University of Central Oklahoma | Edmond, OK |
| 29 | College of DuPage | Glen Ellyn, IL |
| 30 | Portland Community College | Portland, OR |
| 31 | Milwaukee Area Technical College | Milwaukee, WI |
| 32 | Scottsdale Community College | Scottsdale, AZ |
| 33 | Century College | White Bear Lake, MN |
| 34 | Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale, VA |
| 35 | Ivy Tech Community College | Indianapolis, IN |
| 36 | Salt Lake Community College | Salt Lake City, UT |
| 37 | Montana State University | Bozeman, MT |
View the Best Visual & Performing Arts Associate Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Design & Applied Arts | 7,578 |
| Fine & Studio Arts | 4,447 |
| Music | 1,952 |
| General Visual & Performing Arts | 1,740 |
| Film, Video & Photographic Arts | 1,531 |
| Drama & Theater Arts | 1,478 |
| Arts & Media Management | 217 |
| Dance | 166 |
| Other Visual Art | 87 |
| Crafts, Folk Art & Artisanry | 9 |
