Visual and Performing Arts

What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$28,708

Median Earnings

$41,156

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $37,668Median: $41,15675th: $46,944

Best Schools for Visual and Performing Arts by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	Fordham University NY · Private	79	$65,848	$44,338	$27,000	C
2	Champlain College VT · Private	49	$57,883	$35,860	$27,000	D
3	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$57,002	$21,315	$22,420	B
4	George Mason University VA · Public	86	$54,703	$17,915	$25,620	D
5	The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public	90	$53,829	$19,857	$21,500	D
6	University of Central Florida FL · Public	79	$52,922	$10,411	$24,250	D
7	University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public	77	$50,205	$20,268	$21,719	D
8	Lesley University MA · Private	38	$49,175	$31,152	$26,000	F
9	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$48,589	$14,967	$22,625	D
10	University of Advancing Technology AZ · Private	28	$48,112	$28,522	$29,750	F
11	California State University-San Marcos CA · Public	80	$48,043	$10,229	$18,750	C
12	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater WI · Public	64	$47,819	$14,158	$24,500	D
13	University of Florida FL · Public	92	$47,546	$6,541	$17,983	C
14	University of Florida-Online FL · Public	91	$47,546	$4,815	$17,983	C
15	SUNY Oneonta NY · Public	72	$47,321	$19,158	$24,250	F
16	Otis College of Art and Design CA · Private	36	$47,220	$51,248	$27,000	F
17	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public	32	$46,944	$24,022	$27,000	F
18	University of Toledo OH · Public	48	$46,198	$17,249	$26,166	D
19	University of California-San Diego CA · Public	96	$45,915	$12,470	$15,000	B+
20	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona PA · Public	59	$45,170	$22,213	$24,638	D
21	Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public	62	$45,170	$32,875	$24,638	D
22	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington PA · Public	63	$45,170	$18,071	$24,638	D
23	Pennsylvania State University-World Campus PA · Public	63	$45,170	$19,550	$24,638	D
24	University of New Mexico-Main Campus NM · Public	38	$44,091	$15,489	$16,750	C
25	Longwood University VA · Public	50	$44,066	$19,066	$27,250	D
26	Empire State University NY · Public	61	$43,473	$11,676	N/A	-
27	Academy of Art University CA · Private	10	$43,084	$40,613	$31,000	F
28	Ramapo College of New Jersey NJ · Public	81	$43,063	$18,173	$25,926	C
29	Southern Oregon University OR · Public	37	$43,044	$16,732	$24,500	F
30	Christopher Newport University VA · Public	64	$42,907	$23,015	$26,000	F
31	Temple University PA · Public	64	$42,731	$28,198	$26,500	F
32	Grand Canyon University AZ · Private	25	$42,219	$22,472	$26,991	F
33	University of Mary Washington VA · Public	71	$41,509	$20,667	$26,000	D
34	Bloomfield College of Montclair State University NJ · Public	50	$41,156	$28,014	N/A	-
35	Montclair State University NJ · Public	71	$41,156	$15,566	N/A	-
36	University of Wisconsin-Stout WI · Public	67	$41,129	$17,490	$29,350	D
37	State University of New York at New Paltz NY · Public	68	$41,097	$18,809	$21,324	F
38	University of Kentucky KY · Public	69	$40,538	$18,851	$23,522	D
39	University of North Carolina Asheville NC · Public	34	$40,444	$12,250	$23,250	F
40	Stockton University NJ · Public	62	$40,199	$20,670	$25,000	F
41	Bennington College VT · Private	26	$39,958	$30,947	$27,000	F
42	SUNY at Purchase College NY · Public	33	$39,791	$18,913	$27,000	F
43	Iowa State University IA · Public	79	$39,403	$18,589	N/A	-
44	Worcester State University MA · Public	77	$39,037	$13,381	N/A	-
45	Mississippi State University MS · Public	54	$38,939	$17,595	$27,000	F
46	University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth MA · Public	70	$38,676	$20,927	$27,000	F
47	University of Southern Mississippi MS · Public	27	$38,599	$21,708	N/A	-
48	Rogers State University OK · Public	28	$37,996	$15,314	N/A	-
49	The University of Tennessee-Martin TN · Public	37	$37,930	$10,701	$22,625	D
50	The University of Texas at Dallas TX · Public	84	$37,825	$18,267	$21,196	D

Poor Value

Is Visual and Performing Arts Worth It?

Passion Play - Manage the Cost

The money on Visual and Performing Arts is genuinely tough. An average $28,708 four years out is hard to square with a big tuition bill. If this is your passion, go for it - but keep debt as low as you can: in-state public, scholarships, anything that pulls the net cost down.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 80 schools in our data. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so weigh each aid offer closely.

The top earner here is Texas A&M University-College Station, where graduates pull $57,002 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Visual and Performing Arts All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Visual and Performing Arts

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Visual and Performing Arts by Earnings

Is Visual and Performing Arts Worth It?

Passion Play - Manage the Cost

Related Reading